It took fire and rescue officers about three hours to control the fire that erupted in the Henveiru ward of the capital on Friday night.

The fire broke out in a cafe' on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, and spread to the neighbouring building where State Bank of India (SBI) and other offices are located.

It was reported at around 9:47pm, and controlled through joint efforts by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)'s Fire and Rescue Service Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)'s Rescue and Fire Fighting Service, by 11:50pm.

No injuries have been reported.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited the site of the incident not long after, along with Defence Minister Mariya Didi and Home Minister Imran Abdulla.

Speaking to the media, the president assured that authorities were “ready to assist those affected by the fire.”

While a temporary shelter was set up in Kalaafaanu School immediately, the National Disasted Management Authority (NDMA) has since said that there have been no request for temporary shelter.

While a number of people had gathered near Artificial Beach after the fire broke out, Solih also reiterated his calls to heed the advice of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) against mass gatherings, citing that such actions help the spread of Covid-19 and hinder efforts to control the pandemic.

Male’ City saw one of the worst fires in its history in September 2019, which took down four warehouses and six residential buildings. There was one death as well; 46-year-old Aishath Shauna died after being trapped inside one of the buildings.