Workers clear rubble in wake of massive Housing Ministry blaze

Workers from the Public Works Department of the Local Government Ministry have begun demolishing and clearing rubble from a block of government buildings that burned down in a massive fire earlier this week.

The fire broke out at a block of government buildings located in the Ameenee Magu of Male’ City at around 06:00 am on Thursday. The buildings housed the Housing Ministry, Infrastructure Ministry, Environment Ministry and three sections of the Male’ City Council – including the Vital Registration Department.

In a post on X on Saturday morning, Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar said that workers from the ministry’s Public Works Department have begun clearing rubble from the area.

He said that he expects the section of the busy Ameenee Magu – which has been closed since the fire – can be opened on Sunday.

އަލިފާނުގެ ހާދިސާ ހިނގި ސަރަހައްދުގައި ހުރި ކުނިތައް ނަގައި، ބިން ސާފުކުރުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް @MoCLPmv އިން ފަށައިފިން.

މިހާރު ބަންދުކުރެވިފައިވާ އަމީނީ މަގު މާދަމާ ހުޅުވާލެވޭވަރު ވާނެކަމަށް ފަލާކުރެވޭ. pic.twitter.com/0IiGHBoEde

— Adam Shareef Umar (@Adamshareefz) December 14, 2024

He had visited the site to observe clearance works on Saturday morning.

ބުރާސްފަތި ދުވަހު އަލިފާނުގެ ޙާދިޘާގައި ގެއްލުންލިބުނު ޢިމާަރާތް ރޫޅައި، ބިން ސާފުކުރުމަށް، މި ވުޒާރާގެ ޕަބްލިކް ވާރކްސްގެ މުވައްޒަފުން ކުރަމުންދާ މަސައްކަތްތައް ބައްލަވައި ލެއްވުމަށް، ވަޒީރު އާދަމް ޝަރީފު ޢުމަރު އެ ސަރަޙައްދަށް ވަޑައިގެންނެވުން pic.twitter.com/51JQduC8LS

— Ministry of Cities, Local Government, Public Works (@MoCLPmv) December 14, 2024

The fire had also affected nearby buildings, with at least 27 people evacuated from neighboring homes.

The fire has disrupted the services of three government ministries and the city council. Preparations are underway to have the three ministries run out of the Dharubaaruge, a convention center located in the capital.

The fire had broken out just ahead of work hours, and did not result in any injuries.

The cause of the fire is unclear at this point.