As a precautionary measure against major fire incidents, the Government recently announced plans to establish a fire hydrant system in Malé. It will be established as part of the Malé road regeneration project. Malé, less than 6 kilometres in size, is one of the most congested capital cities in the world. It is often described by writers as “the concrete jungle” of Asia. Small, high rise concrete buildings are erected one next to the other, where nearly half of the country’s population reside.
The lack of a proper fire prevention and control mechanism in Malé is a huge concern for many, and fire incidents can more-often-than-not be disastrous. One of the more recent cases was the incident at the Coastline Hardware store, one which was shocking and tragic. Though no persons were injured in the fire, it left many wondering, what if the fire had spread more and resulted in casualties? Following the incident, Defense Minister Adam Shareef Umar vowed to revise the current policies and establish a proper fire prevention and control mechanism.
It was also followed by a decision to integrate a project to establish a fire hydrant system along with the Malé road regeneration project. The road project would see the asphalt layering of Bodu Thakurufaanu Magu, and road re-surfacing work on 11 other main roads in Malé, and the establishment of a fire hydrant system. The road regeneration project is expected to commence soon after the Eid al-Adha holidays.
Fires are not uncommon in the crowded capital island, with one as recent as last week. 3 houses were damaged in the fire on Wednesday, though no casualties were reported. But not all incidents have been like such, with many causing millions in damages, and shuttering a number of businesses. A proper prevention and control mechanism covering all areas of Malé would surely bring a sigh of relief to many of the over 150,000 residents who call Malé home.