Major Fire Destroys Gov’t Ministry Building in Male’

A major fire broke out this morning at the building housing the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development and the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, located on Ameenee Magu in Male’.

The blaze, which quickly engulfed the building, also spread to the nearby Green Building, home to the Ministry of Environment.

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The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Fire and Rescue Services are leading efforts to control the fire. Police confirmed that evacuations of residents in neighbouring homes are underway, and the area has been cordoned off to ensure public safety and manage traffic.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited the site to inspect the damage and oversee response efforts.

Authorities have reported that the building housing the two ministries has been destroyed beyond use. While the fire has been largely contained, heavy smoke continues to billow from the scene.

Further updates on the incident are expected as authorities work to assess the situation.

Minister Cuts Thailand Trip Short Following Fire at Ministry Building

The Minister of Housing, Land, and Urban Development, Dr Ali Haidar, has decided to cut short his official visit to Thailand and return to the Maldives following a major fire at the building housing his ministry. Dr Haidar was attending the United Nations’ ninth session of the Committee on Statistics in Bangkok at the time of the incident.

The fire broke out at the Maafannu Green Building on Ameenee Magu, which accommodates the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Environment, and an office of the Malé City Council. The blaze spread rapidly, causing severe damage to the structure.

Firefighting teams from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) worked for over four hours to bring the fire under control. Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon confirmed that efforts began at 6:30 hrs, with priority given to evacuating occupants and nearby residents. While no injuries were reported, important records, including those from the Vital Registration Office of the Malé City Council, could not be salvaged.

Housing Ministry Assures Housing Scheme Records Unaffected by Building Fire

Concerns were raised about the impact of the fire on key housing initiatives, including the Binveriyaa and Gedhoruveriyaa schemes. However, the Housing Ministry assured the public that all related documents, including the flat allocation lists, are securely stored in the ministry’s cloud hosting system and remain unaffected.

“We are consulting with the relevant authorities on safety and security measures moving forward,” the ministry stated in a press release.

The Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure has temporarily suspended its services and will announce a resumption date once alternative arrangements are made. The Environment Ministry, which has offices in a different section of the affected building, also reported service disruptions.

The incident has prompted renewed concerns about fire safety and disaster preparedness for government facilities. Dr Haidar is expected to oversee the immediate response upon his return.