Fishing vessel in Gulhee lagoon severely damaged in fire

A fishing vessel in Kaafu atoll Gulhee lagoon was severely damaged in a fire.

Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Afzal of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said that the when the fishing vessel “Tharaqqee”, owned by Ali Adam of Municipality Khaassa Dhaftharu, caught on fire there were two expatriates and one Maldivian onboard. However, no one was injured in the incident, he said.

According to an eyewitness at the Gulhee Boatyard, really heavy smoke could be seen coming out from the boat’s engine room area before it burst into flame. He further said that the iceboxes, cabin and other areas of the vessel had been severely damaged in the fire. A loud noise was heard before the fire, he said.

Police and the MNDF said that that the engine and everything on the fishing vessel had been damaged in the fire. A Police Media Official said that the fire had been caused due to a problem with the engine, but did not go into details