Fire at Velidhoo’s Waste Management Centre Causes MVR 3 Million in Damages, Council Reports

Noonu Atoll Velidhoo Council has disclosed that the damages resulting from the fire at the island’s Waste Management Centre are estimated to amount to nearly MVR 3 million.

The incident unfolded around 12:30 hrs on Saturday when the fire broke out at the Waste Management Centre. Despite extensive efforts, authorities managed to extinguish the flames by approximately 17:00 hrs the same day. Regrettably, the building sustained irreparable damage.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported in connection with the incident.

According to a statement issued by the Velidhoo Council, preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated from an electricity shortage in the vicinity where waste materials are stored. However, a comprehensive inquiry, conducted in collaboration with relevant authorities, is underway to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

The Council expressed that the aftermath of the fire has been substantial, with a considerable portion of the centre itself, operational machinery, and a drag brush machine used for football turf maintenance rendered unusable.

The estimated cost of the damages is projected to be around MVR 3 million.

In response to the emergency, the Velidhoo community, Velidhoo Police Station, and nearby resorts including Cheval Blanc Randheli, Siyam World Maldives, and Velaa Private Island, collaborated with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to contain and extinguish the fire.

The Waste Management Centre, situated on a 13000 sqft land plot on the northern side of Velidhoo Island, was established in 2022 to address the waste disposal needs of the area.