Vital registration services to resume in Male’ this week

Male’ City Council said on Sunday that they are working to resume vital registration services in Male’ City within this week – after a massive fire last week burned down a block of government buildings – including one that housed the council’s Vital Registration Department.

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, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and two sections of the Male’ City Council – including the Vital Registration Department.

The fire resulted in loss of and damage to key documents.

The city council is currently running its Vital Registration Department out of a council office on the first floor of the Amin Avenue apartment complex in Hulhumale’.

A spokesperson from the city council told Sun on Sunday afternoon that the council is working on resuming vital registration services in Male’ City within this week.

Dharubaaruge, a convention center located in Galolhu district, has been converted into an office complex to house the Housing Ministry, Infrastructure Ministry, Environment Ministry and the EPA.

In the wake of the fire, government officials said that top priority of the government was to have the ministries up and running as soon as possible.

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

However, it burned two government buildings beyond use, and also affected nearby buildings, with at least 27 people evacuated from neighboring homes.

The cause of the fire remains unclear.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau said that the police are collecting forensic evidence from the scene, and are also questioning eye witnesses and analyzing footage from the CCTV cameras in the area.

He also said that a team of foreign experts will join the investigation soon.

Workers from the Public Works Department of the Local Government Ministry have begun demolishing and clearing rubble from the site.