Mathikilhi to ashes again, authorities suspect arson

It has been alleged that the fire which occurred in Mathikilhi, Meedhoo, Addu City, over the last two days, was deliberately set by people.

According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the fire was reported at 10:37 on Sunday morning and was fully extinguished by 7:05 in the evening.

Meedhoo Ward Councillor Aminath Saliha told Sun on Monday that authorities suspect the fire was intentionally set. Citing MNDF and Fire and Rescue Services, she said the blaze appeared to have been ignited from five separate locations.

“Now, when the fire starts from different directions, we don’t have the manpower or resources—we only have one vehicle, so we cannot deploy resources everywhere at once,” Saliha said.

She added that Sunday’s fire was likely a case of deliberate arson.

According to Saliha, the fire completely destroyed the greenery of Mathikilhi and damaged the small bridge within the eco garden.

She noted that repair costs for the walkway are estimated at around MVR 600,000.

However, due to recent amendments to the Decentralization Act that limit the powers of local councils, the relevant regulations needed to address such incidents have yet to be made public, she said.

On its Meta page, the Mathikilhi Society urged visitors to refrain from accessing the garden via the damaged walkway until further notice, citing safety concerns.

It said on October 4, 2025, a major fire broke out in the Mathikilhi area, causing significant damage to the bridge walkway at Mathikilhi Eco Garden. As a result, the walkway has been rendered unsafe and is currently unusable.

Several suspected arson attacks have been reported in Mathikilhi this year alone. Both the Meedhoo Council and the Eco Garden Society have called for a formal investigation into the incidents.

On March 19, a major fire engulfed Mathikilhi, destroying approximately two-thirds of the protected wetland.