Police Rule Out Arson in 2024 Ministry Fire

The Maldives Police Service has concluded that the fire that destroyed the government office complex on Ameenee Magu in December 2024 was caused by an electrical short circuit, ruling out arson following a detailed investigation involving CCTV analysis and forensic examination.

Head of Major Crime Investigation Superintendent of Police Abdulla Rasheed presented the findings at a press briefing on Thursday, where police released CCTV footage showing the events leading up to and during the fire.

According to police, investigators reviewed footage from 14 CCTV cameras, including more than 600 hours of recordings, as well as photographs and videos submitted by members of the public. Statements were also taken from 42 people in connection with the investigation.

Forensic examination of electrical cables recovered from the site found evidence of overheating, electrical arcing and wires fusing together. Police said short circuits were identified in two cables. Samples taken from the scene also contained no traces of chemicals or substances that could have been used to accelerate the fire.

Police said the fire originated in the Housing Ministry’s Geomatics Department, an area where electrical problems had previously been reported. An investigation by an Indian specialist forensic team also determined that the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit.

The investigation also examined whether anyone could have entered the premises and deliberately started the fire.

Police said CCTV footage showed that no unauthorised person entered the affected area after the building was secured at around 12:40 a.m. Two security guards remained at the premises overnight. Investigators said the camera coverage around the buildings made it possible to establish movements in and around the site.

The footage showed smoke and fire becoming visible at around 6:00 a.m. A worker arriving at approximately 6:01 a.m. noticed the fire, while a security guard at a nearby building also saw the smoke and sought assistance.

Police said the guard was unable to immediately contact emergency services because he did not have sufficient phone credit and did not know the emergency number. An off-duty MNDF officer passing through the area subsequently alerted the authorities.

MNDF firefighters arrived and initially found it difficult to locate the source of the fire because much of it was burning inside ceiling spaces. Police said the fire had spread through narrow concealed areas and ducts, making it difficult for firefighters to identify and extinguish the separate pockets of fire.

The blaze was eventually brought under control at around 12:45 p.m. and fully extinguished at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The December 12, 2024 fire destroyed the building complex that housed the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, and Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, along with offices of the Environmental Protection Agency and parts of the Malé City Council.

The fire forced the affected ministries to relocate their operations temporarily to Dharubaaruge, where staff have continued working while plans for replacement government office facilities have progressed. A subsequent government redevelopment initiative has also identified the fire-affected area as part of the planned Malé Center Point development.

The incident had been followed by public speculation over its cause, including allegations that the building may have been deliberately set on fire. Police’s latest findings, however, state that the evidence gathered during the investigation does not support arson and that the fire resulted from an electrical fault.