The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has revealed that losses incurred by households affected by the chemical warehouse fire on 20 September reach MVR 35 million.
Speaking to press on Friday, NDMA’s Deputy CEO Umar Fikuree stated that they had carried out the damage assessment in two ways; assessment of damage to essential household properties and damage to buildings.
While the assessment of damage to essential properties has been completed, over 90 households were assessed. The assessment report shows that losses incurred reach MVR 1.1 million.
He added that the assessment to buildings was long drawn-out and that it was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and a team of Technical Engineers from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).
The assessment was led by the Planning Ministry, around 30 households were assessed. The assessment was drawn out because some of the buildings that were severely damaged require a structural Integrity. The engineers carried out concrete strength tests in some of the houses as well”Umar Fikuree
The report shows that losses incurred to buildings reach MVR 35,064,000.
The total amount in losses incurred overall, reaches MVR 36.1 million, revealed Umar, who added that the next thing to be done is distributing the cash funds received as aid for those affected, and the required government aid.
Further speaking at the press, NDMA’s Chief Executive Hisaan Hassan revealed that they have not urged any of the affected families to move out of the residences being provided by the authority.
He said this in light of reports by some media that some families have been asked to move out.
He added that 145 individuals from 31 families are still under their care out of which, 31 individuals from seven families are owners of some of the buildings affected by the fire. They have been placed under state care at apartments in Mookai Suites and Gaakoshi.
Further, the authority also said that they have allocated money for those who were living for rent in the apartments that burned down, as rent money for a three-month period and food allowance until 30 October.
Earlier investigations revealed that 12 types of chemicals were stored in the warehouse where the fire was originated, in Thilafusheege. They were imported after acquiring the required authorization from the Ministry of Defense and National Security during 2018.
Maldives Police Service (MPS) confirmed that there was no negligence on any part in relation to the incident and that their investigations also do not show that is was done purposefully.
A total of 786 had sought temporary aid out of which 450 are men and 336 are women. All of those affected were provided temporary shelter by NDMA within the few days that followed. It had also taken the life of a 46-year-old woman, Aishath Shauna.
Out of the total amount, 636 are Maldivians and 104 Bangladeshi nationals, 19 Indians, 16 Nepalis, 14 Sri Lankan nationals, six Philippine nationals and one Egyptian.
The incident was the biggest such incident in recent history and the government has assured the public that necessary action will be taken to prevent such incidents from repeating.
