Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has launched an operation on Sunday to inspect chemical storage facilities in Male' City.
The operations follows a tragic fire incident that left one dead and over 400 homeless. A few garages, storage facilities and 7 residential buildings were also destroyed by the fire that originated in a 3-storey chemical storage facility.
Many have taken over to social media and posted pictures and locations of facilities that store chemicals and other flammables to alert authorities. Storing dangerous goods and flammables in residential buildings is prohibited by law.
MNDF carried an operation early this year to monitor and inspect such facilities. Minister of Defence Mariya Didi said MNDF identified 126 chemical storage facilities in the capital of which 86 facilities are located in residential buildings.
The government has guaranteed to take appropriate measure to move storage of chemical and flammables away from residential places. Storage facilities and land lease from Thilafushi have been proposed by the government to store chemicals in the capital.