M. Nirufehi garage fire: MPS refutes reports of alcohol brewing equipment being found at site

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has refuted reports that authorities had discovered equipment used to brew alcohol at the building where the fire broke out in Maafannu-ward of Malé City ެަearly Thursday.

This comes at a time some people have been circulating unverified information that investigative authorities who had entered the building for inspection, had uncovered equipment used to brew alcohol, inside the building.

When questioned regarding the matter by RaajjeMV, Spokesperson at the MPS Superintendent of Police Fathmath Nashwa brushed off these claims to be untrue.

As such, she revealed that the inspection work is still ongoing and that so far, officers have not discovered equipment of such kind at the site.

She also refuted claims by some individuals that a cleaning team that had entered the building had discovered a dead body.

Police have so far confirmed 10 victims in the tragic garage fire and authorities are still working on the identification process of the victims.

Investigations are also underway to determine the cause of the fire, that took the lives of seven Indian nationals, with 3 others . Maldivian authorities have confirmed that seven of the deceased were Indian nationals and that the identity of one person is still to be confirmed.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih earlier met senior officials of relevant government agencies for discussions regarding the fire, and on measures to prevent them in the future.

He also urged the authorities to ensure transparency in disclosing information to the public and instructed them to expedite the identification of the deceased as well as to assist those affected by the fire.

Relevant authorities were also instructed to enhance efforts to inspect the accommodation arrangements of foreign workers and compile a plan to relocate workshops and vehicle garages in residential areas.

Further, the president assured that his administration would take steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

So far, more than MVR 90,000 has been spent in relief efforts in connection with the tragic fire.

The fire broke out inside a garage on the ground floor of Nirufehi house in Maafannu ward near the Maaveyo Mosque.

It didn’t take long for the fire to spread throughout the entire building, according to authorities.

The fire was extinguished by 90 percent, by 03:56am and was completely doused at around 04:34am.