Major fire-breakout in Maldives, 9 Indians killed in workers lodging
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New Delhi: At least nine Indians were killed and several others injured after a fire broke out on a building where foreign workers were staying in the Maldivian capital of Male Thursday.
The fire that went up from a ground-floor vehicle garage swept through destroying the building, according to a report by AFP.
The fire brigade recovered 10 bodies from the charred building after struggling about four hours to put out the fire.
The Indian High Commission in Maldives expressed grief, saying it is in close contact with the Maldivian authorities.
The commission reportedly tweeted: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident in Malé which has caused loss of lives, including reportedly of Indian nationals."
Foreign workers coming mostly from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who make up about half of Male's 250,000 population, are reportedly living in poor conditions.
The Covid pandemic brought to light their living conditions when raging covid hit them harder than it had done the natives.