Owner: Launch caught fire on petrol tank, launch is insured

Owner of the launch “Niruma”, which caught fire while leaving the Malé City harbor en route to Hulhulé, has said that the fire started when the petrol tank of the boat caught fire but the launch was insured.

While the launch burned beyond use in the incident that took place around 2:20 p.m. today, owner of the vessel, Abdulla Ahmed told Sun Media today that the fire on board started on the fuel tank during the engine start after the engine stopped.

He said that the vessel had no previous issued in the past two years the vessel has been in use to transport tourists to Maafushi guesthouses.

The launch caught fire while it was on it’s way to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) on Hulhué to pick up the tourists. At the time of the incidents, there were three locals on board the vessel. As the three people are being treated at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the Information Officer of the hospital, Zeenath Ali Habeeb said that their burns are minor and are recovering in good condition.

The owner of the vessel said that the extent of the damages is unclear at the time. He also have another vessel.

The Marine Police Department is investigating the cause of the fire.