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Fire destroys MIFCO complex in Malé

Maldives Culture special report - 11 October 2003

MIFCO warehouse complex, Maldives, burns down - 2003

MIFCO fire fighters Maldives 2003

A fire in the Maldives capital Malé on Friday night destroyed the head office and warehouse of the government-owned fish exporter, Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company, MIFCO.

No one was hurt during the blaze, which also engulfed two shops - MIFCO's 'Fasmeeru' and the privately run G6 cafe. The MIFCO complex is located in the Maafannu ward in southwest Malé, adjacent to the infamous NSS barracks Kalhuthukkala Koshi.

The fire began just after 6 p.m. and police fought for almost three hours to bring the flames under control. Important documents were burnt, according to Haveeru's Dhivehi account of the fire. MIFCO's deputy managing director, Ibrahim Athif said the building and contents were uninsured. Spares, ship stores and general goods are believed lost, but only a small amount of canned fish (for the two shops) was stored at the site. Athif said containers of paint and paint thinner exploded during the fire.

Haveeru reported the owner of the G6 cafe, Dr Abdullah Afeef said his cafe caught fire around 8 p.m. and he estimated his losses at US$20,000 though he managed to rescue some items.

Friday and Saturday are the weekend in Maldives and government offices are usually closed. Regular MIFCO staff were on holiday when the fire occurred. Onlookers said the fire seemed to start in the southwest corner of the complex and they claim the NSS may have initially underestimated the amount of water they would need to extinguish the blaze, relying on two fire lorries carrying 2 tons of water, instead of connecting a pipe to the sea.

The fire continued to burn throughout Friday night and was still smouldering on Saturday morning. A rough assessment of total damage is US$100,000 or more.

Last year MIFCO was re-structured after consistent financial losses, and the company was expected to show a profit for the first time in 2003. MIFCO is 100% government-owned, with fishing rights to the two best zones. Until 2001, it had exclusive rights on tuna exports. There is an unconfirmed claim that government auditors were to begin an audit of MIFCO on Sunday, October 12.

The cause of fire is unknown.