Deaths of 2 Bangladeshi expats in Maldives: Bodies to be sent home

The Maldives' authorities have begun the process of repatriating the bodies of two Bangladeshis and seven Indian nationals who were burnt to death in the country's largest fire in Male.

According to the Maldives Police Service on Friday, seven of the 10 people killed in a car garage fire on Thursday were Indian nationals, and the other two were Bangladeshis.

One of the bodies discovered in the rubble, however, is yet to be identified, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

All 10 bodies are now at the Galolhu Mortuary in Male.

Among the deceased were a Bangladeshi man -- Uzzal, of Bishnupur area in Panchbibi, Joypurhat and a woman -- Asia Begum of Pirpur village in Dhanbari, Tangail, three Indian women and four Indian men, police in Male said.

A Bangladeshi expatriate, who survived the fire, is at present undergoing treatment at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male. The victim received third or fourth-degree burns, Male's online newspaper the Edition.mv reported today.

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Deceased in Maldives fire identified

The Maldives' foreign ministry has confirmed that they have begun repatriating the bodies of the victims, the online newspaper said.

The Maldivian law enforcement authorities said the families of the victims will have the support of their respective embassies or high commissions in the Maldives as well as the foreign ministry in repatriating the bodies back home, according to the portal.

Around 12:30am local time on Thursday (November 10, 2022), a fire swept through a car garage in M Nirufehi, near the Maaveyo Mosque. The garage is on the ground floor, while the building's first floor housed migrant workers from Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka.