Ministries Temporarily Relocated Following Fire

Three government ministries have been temporarily relocated to Dharubaaruge following a fire that engulfed the M. Green Building, which housed multiple offices. 

The fire, which began in the Housing Ministry section of the building at 6:30 am last Thursday, quickly spread to the Construction Ministry and the adjacent Environment Ministry.

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The blaze was extinguished after four hours, leaving the entire building completely destroyed. A Housing Ministry official confirmed that their work is being relocated to Dharubaaruge, with the move expected to be completed by 10:00 pm tonight. The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is assisting in the relocation of the other two ministries to the same venue, where temporary offices are being set up.

In addition to the ministries, Malé City Council’s vital registration office was also affected. Operations for the office have been moved to Hulhumalé as a temporary measure.

Dharubaaruge, originally built 34 years ago under former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom to host the fifth SAARC Summit, has often been used by the government in emergencies. Most recently, it served as the National Emergency Operations Centre during the Covid-19 pandemic. The site has since been expanded with a modern extension.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has confirmed that 29 individuals were displaced due to the fire, which also damaged three neighbouring buildings: M. Loakashige, M. Kudhimaavilla, and M. Loobiyaage. Residents from seven homes in the affected area have been relocated to temporary shelters.

Among the displaced are 15 women and 14 men, including one person with special needs. NDMA is coordinating efforts to provide emergency assistance and assess the damage, urging the public to cooperate with ongoing relief activities.

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, which has left significant challenges for both government operations and affected residents.