Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon emphasised that his top priority was to ensure the safety of civilians while managing the blaze.

The fire, which started at 6:30 AM, occurred in a building overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, as well as the Ministry of Construction and Planning.

Minister Ghassan told the media that immediate action was taken upon receiving reports of the fire, with authorities swiftly evacuating residents and the public to safer areas. However, he noted that by the time the evacuation was completed, the fire had already spread significantly throughout the building.

The Minister confirmed that the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) was deployed to the scene, utilising all available firefighting equipment and additional personnel to control the blaze. The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) also assisted by providing vehicles to support the firefighting efforts.

Furthermore, Minister Ghassan stated that measures were being taken to secure crucial documents from the housing and construction ministries, as well as surrounding buildings, and relocate them to safe areas.