The relocation of operations and services of three government ministries to the Dharubaaruge convention centre is underway, following the suspension caused by Thursday's fire incident, the government has revealed.
The fire, which broke out early Thursday morning, devastated the building housing the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, and the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure. The adjacent 'Green Building,' home to the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, was also damaged in the incident.
In the aftermath of the fire, the operations and services of the three affected ministries were suspended. Authorities have subsequently resolved to relocate these functions to the Dharubaaruge convention centre to ensure the uninterrupted provision of services. Temporary arrangements are currently being established at Dharubaaruge, according to the Housing Ministry, to facilitate the swift recommencement of operations. They will be completed at the earliest possible time, the ministry added.
The relocation of the ministries to Dharubaaruge also led to the postponement of several events initially planned there, including the official function to commemorate Fishermen's Day and the Rehendhi Awards ceremony.
Despite the significant property loss, including a large amount of equipment and documentation, no injuries were reported. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) remains on-site, monitoring the situation as there is still a possibility for the fire to reignite.
According to the MNDF Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), the fire was first reported at around 6:27 a.m. on Thursday. First responders arrived immediately to find the area engulfed in heavy smoke, said FRS officials. The fire was eventually brought under control after five hours of concerted efforts by FRS and other authorities.