Malé City Council Directs HDC to Strengthen Safety Measures at Hulhumalé Towers

Malé City Council has unanimously passed a resolution directing the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to strengthen safety measures at open areas, including balconies and windows, of residential towers in Hulhumalé Phase 2.

The emergency motion was submitted at the council’s general meeting today by MDP Councillor for Hulhumalé North, Fathimath Zahiyya, amid recent incidents involving children falling from high-rise buildings in the area.

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Zahiyya said the number of such incidents involving young children in Hulhumalé Phase 2 has increased recently and called for a permanent solution to prevent falls from residential towers.

She highlighted the use of safety railings and enclosed barriers around balconies, windows and other open areas in high-rise buildings in other countries as measures that could help prevent such incidents.

“Therefore, we need to enforce such standards in the Maldives as well. If this is not done moving forward, there is a risk of losing many more lives,” Zahiyya said.

The council passed the resolution unanimously with all members present voting in favour. The resolution calls on HDC to implement the recommended safety measures.

The decision comes after two recent incidents involving falls from buildings in Hulhumalé Phase 2.

On August 31, a 16-year-old girl was hospitalised after falling from the third floor of Amaan Udhares 2. Police said they received a report at around 11:35am that a child had fallen from the building.

In a separate incident yesterday morning, a two-year-old child died after falling from a building in Hulhumalé Phase 2. Police said the child was dead before being taken to hospital.

Authorities did not disclose the name or details of the building involved in the second incident. Local media reports said the child had fallen from a STELCO residential flat in Phase 2.