Police said officers had to break through a wall of a migrant workers’ accommodation block in Alif Dhaal Dhigurah to rescue those trapped inside, during the tragic fire that left five dead and two others critically injured. The Bangladeshi High Commission identified the deceased as Taj Uddin Islam, Md Sadar Ali, Md Robin Molla, Shafiqul Islam, and Md Nurnabi Sarker. Jamal Uddin and Saddam Hossain were brought to Malé and remain on ventilator support at IGMH. Seven others were rescued with severe burns. A door through the kitchen was the only entrance to the accommodation block, which housed around 30 workers. The fire broke out following a gas leak, trapping several workers inside.
The state-owned Road Development Corporation announced 174 job vacancies across seven islands less than a month before the local council elections. The openings include 50 positions for a worksite in Haa Alif Uligan, while 42 vacancies are being offered in Alif Alif Rasdhoo and 32 in Noonu Miladhoo. The advertised roles range from managers and supervisors to drivers, heavy vehicle operators, support staff and security guards.
The Maldives Airport Company raised the selling price of jet fuel from US$ 1.19 to US$ 1.69 per litre. Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef called the 42 percent jump “unavoidable” due to disruption to the global oil market from the US and Israeli war on Iran. Several airlines operating to the Maldives have increased ticket prices.
Daniel Di Giovine, a 60-year-old Australian man was found dead at the swimming track area in Seenu Hithadhoo on Friday evening. Police said Di Giovine was in the Maldives on a work visa.
President Muizzu ratified amendments to the Employment Act granting civil servants who are new parents two 30-minute breaks each day until their child turns two. Other changes include giving the cabinet the discretion to waive quota fees for micro, small and medium enterprises hiring foreign workers and making the International Labour Day a national holiday.
Ali Ibrahim Didi, an 86-year-old man from Gaaf Dhaal Nadella, passed away in Mecca while performing the Umrah pilgrimage.
Immigration facilitated en-route clearance for 859 passengers and 489 crew members aboard the Vasco Da Gama cruise ship, which anchored at Haa Alif Align on Friday morning after departing from Colombo, Sri Lanka last week. The MS Sirena meanwhile arrived in Malé from Mumbai on Saturday with 609 passengers and 389 crew members.
