Police investigating cause of Friday's fire

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has launched investigations into the chemical warehouse fire on Friday to determine the cause of the fire.

Speaking to press at the site of the fire to provide latest updates, Superintendent of police Hassan Shifau revealed that they have begun investigations to determine the cause of the fire and its point of origin.

He also said that investigations do not suggest that the fire was a deliberate arson attack, however, they are conducting assessments from every angle, considering all possibilities. He stated that they are investigating whether the fire was an accident or a deliberate attack.

Highlighting that they are surveying CCTV footage in the area, Shifau stated that every single apartment that was burned in the incident is being inspected and their forensics department is assessing every apartment that was affected.

Also, they are investigating the multiple losses incurred in the fire including to documents and valuables as well as accessing what was stored in the warehouses at the time of the fire.

Shifau revealed that they are working to find the owners of 21 motorcycles and one pick-up truck that were moved from the region.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen revealed that they are working to compile a damage assessment report currently.

During the fire that broke out inside a chemical warehouse on Friday, four warehouses and six houses were burned.

It was also later reported that burglars had entered an evacuated building in the area and stole 700 US dollars, an Apple Watch, an Air Pod and MVR 37,000.

Following this, social media users had begun spreading reports that the fire could have been a deliberate arson attack.