A devastating fire broke out on the 10th floor of a building near Maaveyo Magu in Male’ City on Monday evening, causing damages exceeding MVR 400 million, according to the warehouse owner.
The affected warehouse, located in Niyandhurumaage, was leased by the company operating Solite and OTP restaurants. Ahmed Shiyam, a director of the company, told that the floor was being used to store equipment, including kitchen sets, freezers, chairs, and tables intended for other restaurant ventures.
Shiyam stated that the cause of the fire remains unknown, as none of the electrical equipment was connected at the time. However, the area contained paper boxes and other flammable materials that may have contributed to the blaze.
The 3,000-square-foot building housed several floors leased for various purposes. The 9th floor was designated as the company’s headquarters, while the 10th floor, where the fire originated, was undergoing renovations to become an event hall for weddings and meetings. During this period, it was being used to store equipment for three to four restaurants, including a new venture set to open at North Harbour.
Shiyam estimated the damage to be between USD 250,000 and USD 300,000, with most of the equipment beyond repair. “We manage about 10 restaurants, and we always keep spare parts in stock,” he said, emphasizing that operations at their existing restaurants would remain unaffected.
Despite the significant loss, Shiyam confirmed that the new restaurant at North Harbour would still open soon.
