Maldives is preparing to deploy drones to help extinguish fires in high-rise buildings across the Greater Malé Region, with initial experiments already conducted, Defence Minister Hassan Rasheed has said.
Speaking at the ‘Ahaa’ public forum, Hassan Rasheed was responding to a question regarding the government’s preparedness for high-rise fire emergencies. He noted that the initiative addresses challenges posed by Malé’s narrow streets and the rapid growth of tall structures, particularly in Hulhumalé, which hinder conventional fire engines.
“I believe we will be able to launch this work before the end of this year, or early next year we will see the rollout of using drones to extinguish fires in tall buildings,” the Minister said.
Alongside drones, the government is procuring specialized fire vehicles and equipment through the State Trading Organisation (STO). Hassan Rasheed noted that while this equipment can tackle fires in buildings up to 10 or 14 storeys, he could not guarantee it would reach 25-storey structures such as the Hiyaa towers.
“In line with the President’s decision, we are procuring fire vehicles through STO. These will also include equipment to combat fires in high-rise buildings,” he added.
To complement equipment upgrades, MNDF Fire and Rescue teams regularly run safety awareness programmes for residents of high-rise complexes.
The Minister raised concerns over a recent surge in serious fire incidents, citing cramped living conditions, electrical wiring negligence, and faulty gas regulators as primary causes. Authorities are now discussing regulatory standards to potentially ban the sale of non-compliant gas regulators.
The planned upgrades follow an increase in the MNDF Fire and Rescue Service budget, which rose from MVR 74 million in 2024 and MVR 78.1 million in 2025 to MVR 123.5 million this year, a 58 per cent year-on-year increase.
This push follows earlier acknowledgements of capacity gaps by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu during a 14-hour press conference in May 2025.
“For example, there are very tall 25-storey buildings. If something happens in one of these places God willing, nothing will, and that is our prayer we do not have the capacity; everyone knows this. Up to this day, the MNDF lacks it. Looking at it this way, Fire and Rescue Services need to be upgraded significantly,” President Muizzu said at the time.
