A dangerous fire incident occurred this morning at an oil shed located in the Sh. Funadhoo harbor area. Reports indicate that homes and workshops in the vicinity sustained significant damages as a result of the incident.

Within a short period of the fire igniting, four houses and five workshops/garages in the area were affected by the blaze. Before the fire was brought under control, residents were evacuated from the affected homes as a precautionary measure. Due to continuous sounds of explosions from the fire-stricken area, residents of nearby houses have been temporarily relocated to safer accommodations.

One house was completely gutted and suffered extensive damage in the incident. Additionally, three other nearby houses also sustained varying degrees of damage due to the fire. In total, five households were affected, and 33 residents were relocated as a safety precaution.

Police, Funadhoo Airport Fire and Rescue Team, MNDF Northern Area Command – Fire and Rescue Service (NAC-FRS), Funadhoo Council, Funadhoo School Cadets, and the general public were actively involved in extinguishing the fire. An MNDF fire team from Kulhudhuffushi also traveled to the island to assist. The fire was fully brought under control at 11:58 AM today. Cooling operations and safety measures are currently being overseen by the Fire and Rescue Services to prevent re-ignition.

While there are no reports of major injuries in the incident, 18 individuals have been reported affected due to smoke inhalation. This includes 16 general public members, 1 firefighter, and 1 hospital staff member. Currently, four individuals are receiving treatment at the Sh. Atoll Hospital. The Funadhoo Council has stated that efforts to further assess and monitor the situation are ongoing.

NDMA is working to identify individuals requiring humanitarian assistance due to this incident and to provide them with aid. The numbers of injured parties, affected households, evacuated individuals, and details of damages are subject to change as the situation evolves.