Police: Electrical issues identified at three ministries prior to fire incident

The Maldives Police Service has revealed that electrical issues were known to exist in the building housing three government ministries prior to the fire that completely gutted the premises.

During a press conference held on Thursday, police released video footage of the fire that broke out at three government ministries. The released material includes footage captured by body-worn cameras of the officers who first arrived at the scene that morning.

During a press conference held by the police, Superintendent Abdulla Rasheed stated that their investigation has confirmed the fire at three ministries was caused by an electrical short circuit. Home Minister Ali Ihusaan had previously shared the same findings during a briefing at the People's Majlis.

Abdulla Rasheed stated that firefighting efforts were hampered by the fact that the ignited electrical cables were located in narrow, inaccessible spaces within the building. He explained that this difficulty prevented immediate containment, allowing the fire to spread rapidly. He further revealed that electrical issues had been previously identified in the Geometrics Department, the area where the fire was first observed.

Furthermore, Abdulla Rasheed noted that even as police and military personnel conducted search operations within the fire-damaged areas, it was observed that electricity remained active in certain parts of the building.

The fire broke out on December 12, 2024, in the building that housed three government ministries. The blaze was brought under control later that afternoon. The incident resulted in the complete destruction of the building, which served as the headquarters for the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Construction, and the Ministry of Environment.