Feeali harbor blaze: Ice plant inaugurated last year burnt to ashes

The ice plant in F. Feeali, inaugurated just last year, has been completely destroyed in a massive fire that broke out at the island’s harbor on Thursday.

The fire originated from a fuel boat docked at the harbor and was reported to authorities at approximately 09:15am. It was brought under control around 10:35am after spreading to three additional vessels, as well as the island’s ice plant and fuel shed.

The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) confirmed that the Feeali ice plant was reduced to ashes. According to the company, the distance between the plant and the boat where the fire began was approximately 15 feet.

The Feeali ice plant had a production capacity of 25 tonnes and was commissioned in June of last year. Fenaka Corporation formally handed over the facility to MIFCO on September 1.

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) reported that one individual—a Bangladeshi national employed on the fuel boat—sustained serious burn injuries and was immediately transported to the Feeali Health Centre.

Eyewitnesses stated that authorities used both water and foam in efforts to contain the fire.

Sun has learned that the vessels to which the fire spread were also completely destroyed in the incident.

A local resident told Sun that the fire reportedly began when the fuel boat activated its pump while docking to offload fuel.