Police spokesperson, Sub-Inspector Ahmed Ali, said police were currently unable to identify the victims because the bodies were severely burned.
Howver Haveeru reported the identities of the victims as Iuthisham Adam and Dhon Sitthi of Haaji Edhuru, the mother of both Deputy Health Minister Fathimath Afiya and Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the UN in Geneva, Iruthisham Adam.
President later Mohamed Nasheed later visited the scene.
“We don’t know how the fire was caused and police are investigating the incident,” said Sub-Inspector Ali. Minivan News observed police forensic officers on the scene.
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) firefighters quickly extinguished the initial blaze and took two hours to completely contain the blaze, successfully preventing it from taking hold in adjoining buildings. Minivan News understands that firefighters searching building for the women were obstructed by the weakened second floor and large amounts of smoke.
Large crowds of civil servants from the nearby Velaanage office building gathered behind police tape to watch as successive rescue attempts were made.
The owner of Sala Thai, who was present at the scene, said the restaurant would have to “close for some time” as the fire had damaged the kitchen and destroyed an upstairs storeroom.
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