Hulhumalé Fire: 31 individuals treated, 11 released while one remains in ICU

One individual remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), following the fire that broke out in Hulhumalé late Saturday night.

A fire broke out at the Labour Quarters - located in the Hulhumalé Industrial Zone - late Saturday night, as those residing there were sleeping.

31 individuals, 29 expatriates and two locals, were taken to Hulhumalé Hospital following the incident, and 12 were sent to Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) for further treatment.

IGMH's media official Ahmed Mausoom said that 12 victims were brought to the hospital; one is being treated in the ICU due to respiratory issues, five in the emergency room and an additional four are being treated there.

While two have been released from IGMH, a total of 11 victims have been released after treatment.

The fire broke out in Amin Construction's Labour Quarters at around 12:15 am, and the fire was controlled after about an hour, at around 1:30 am.

Eyewitnesses informed that a number of the workers had jumped out of windows, in order to escape the fire that broke out in the three-floor building.

Amin Construction's Managing Director Abdulla Jihad said that the workers had to jump out as the staircase had caught fire, adding that three people had sustained spinal fractures, and that they will undergo surgery on Monday.

While the surgeries are to be conducted in Malé, Jihad also stated that those who wish to travel home for treatment will be allowed to do so, and that the company will assist them as well. Most of the victims are from India and Bangladesh.

While the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, Maldives Police Service (MPS) is investigating the matter.