Liveaboard vessel burns down in massive fire off Hulhumale’

A massive fire broke out on a liveaboard vessel in the Hulhumale’ lagoon on early Thursday, causing extensive damage to the vessel.

The fire on board ‘Blue Vega’ was reported to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) at around 03:42 am Thursday.

The MNDF said that firefighters from its Fire and Rescue Service are operating at the scene.

ހުޅުމާލެ ފަޅުތެރޭގައި އޮތް "ބުލޫވޭގާ" ނަމަކަށް ކިޔާ ސަފާރީއެއްގައި އަލިފާން ރޯވެގެން އެމްއެންޑީއެފް ފަޔަރ އެންޑް ރެސްކިޔު ސަރވިސްއިން ދަނީ ހަރަކާތްތެރިވަމުން. މި ހާދިސާގެ ރިޕޯޓް ލިބިފައިވަނީ ރޭ ފަތިހު 03:42 ހާއިރު. pic.twitter.com/zrYGwDim95

— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) November 7, 2024

Photos and videos shared by the MNDF show the fire had spread extensively, damaging the vessel beyond repair.

According to the MNDF, there were 12 sailors on board the vessel when the fire broke out; seven Maldivians and five expatriates. The expatriates were of Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Indian nationalities.

All 12 boarded a nearby diving boat after the fire broke out.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries.

ހުުޅުމާލެ ފަޅުތެރޭގައި އޮތް ސަފާރީއެއްގައި ރޯވި އަލިފާން ނިއްވުމުގައި އެމްއެންޑީއެފް ފަޔަރ އެންޑް ރެސްކިޔު ސަރވިސްއިން ދަނީ ހަރަކާތްތެރިވަމުންhttps://t.co/HUPltnpfTs pic.twitter.com/qdpiWwpgOP

— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) November 7, 2024

The captain of the liveaboard vessel reported to the MNDF that the vessel had diving equipment when the fire broke out.

Hower, the exact cause of the fire remains unclear at this point.