37 people moved to shelters after Hiyaa fire damages plumbing

Dozens of people living in seven different apartments at the Hiyaa Tower 5 have been moved to temporary shelters after a fire on Friday damaged the building’s plumbing.

A spokesperson from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told Sun on Saturday that total 37 people were moved to temporary shelters.

According to the spokesperson, the arrangements are for five days as the authorities repair the damage.

In a post on X, the NDMA said that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is working on repairing the damage to the building’s plumbing.

This authority is also working with the HDC to look into additional matters pertaining to the fire incident, added the NDMA.

ހިޔާ ޓަވަރު 5 ގައި ރޭގައި ހިނގާ ދިޔަ އަލިފާނުގެ ހާދިސާއާއި ގުޅިގެން އެ ޓަވަރުގެ 7 އެޕާޓްމަންޓެއްގެ 37 ފަރާތަކަށް މި އޮތޯރިޓީން ވަނީ ވަގުތީ ބޯހިޔާވަހިކަން ފޯރުކޮށްދީފަ. މި ހާދިސާއަށް ފަހު ނަރުދަމާއަށް ލިބުނު ގެއްލުން ދެނެގަނެ ގެއްލުންތައް މަރާމާތުކުރުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް… pic.twitter.com/AwloHXOvw7

— NDMA Maldives (@NDMAmv) January 31, 2026

The NDMA has asked people affected by the fire to reach out to the authority through its emergency hotline 115.

NDMA’s Chief Executive Hisaan Hassan told Sun on Friday night that the fire originated from one of the building’s air shafts.

While the fire did not cause extensive damage to any of the apartments, it damaged the building’s main plumbing pipe, putting the bathrooms in multiple flats out of service.

Located in Hulhumale’ Phase II, the Hiyaa towers is a sprawling public housing project that houses thousands of people. Several fire incidents have taken place at the towers over the years.