Major Fire at WAMCO Site Contained
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) reported that it took 10 hours of intensive efforts to bring a large fire at the Thilafushi landfill under control. While authorities believe the blaze was triggered by strong winds spreading existing embers across the site, operations are currently ongoing to fully extinguish the fire.
Fire breaks out at Thilafushi landfill. | Maldives Police Service
A major fire broke out at the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) site in K. Thilafushi on Sunday night.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated on Monday that the incident was reported to the Thilafushi Fire Station under the MNDF Male’ Area Command at approximately 22:20 on Sunday night.
Upon receiving the report, firefighters from the Thilafushi and Malé fire stations were dispatched to the scene and worked to extinguish the blaze.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated that the fire was brought under control and prevented from spreading further by approximately 08:00 on Monday morning. However, firefighters remain active at the scene as some areas continue to smolder. According to the MNDF, since the fire broke out at a waste disposal site, it is expected to take additional time to extinguish the flames completely.
Police further stated that they are currently investigating the cause of the incident, though there is no evidence to suggest foul play. Authorities believe the fire likely originated from the routine burning of waste at the landfill, which subsequently spread due to strong winds.
Amidst a major fire at the WAMCO site in Thilafushi, firefighters from the MNDF Southern Area Command’s Hithadhoo Fire Station successfully extinguished a blaze that broke out in a pile of waste at Kalhidhirimaage in Hithadhoo, Addu City, on Sunday night. Additionally, firefighters from the MNDF Central Area Command’s Kadhdhoo Fire Station responded to and contained a brush fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in the woods near the housing unit construction site in the Kurigamu district of L. Fonadhoo.
The frequency of fire incidents has recently seen an upward trend across both Male' City and various islands in the atolls.
