President heads straight to fire site, after returning from NY
He went there straight from Velana International Airport, on Monday morning
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih inspects fire-ravaged homes in Abadhahfehi Magu
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited the site of the recent chemical warehouse fire, after returning to Maldives upon the conclusion of his New York trip.
He went there straight from Velana International Airport, on Monday morning.
During the visit, Solih inspected the area and inquired about the progress of the relief work.
While the incident took place on September 20, a day prior to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s scheduled visit to New York to attend the 74th United Nations General Assembly, he assured the public that the government will take “every action necessary” to prevent repetition of fire incidents.
The tragic fire also led to concerns over the safety conditions of Malé City, where warehouses are authorised to store flammable substances like paint thinner and agricultural fertilizer.
Solih has since instructed all relevant authorities to commence the work of relocating all chemical storages to a safe and isolated location away from residential areas “immediately.”
The opposition had criticized the president for going on the trip, saying that it was "too soon" after the fire; however, the president visited the site as well as the temporary shelters set up for those affected by the fire, on the night of the incident.
The chemical warehouse fire, which broke out in Abadhahfehi Magu in teh Henveiru ward of the capital, had spread to four chemical warehouses and six building, and took the life of 46-year-old Aishath Shauna.
