Fires destroy Meedhoo eco-park; arson suspected
About 80 per cent of the eco-park were destroyed in the fires.
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A large area of forest and the eco-park in Meedhoo, Addu, have been destroyed following two consecutive days of fire.
According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the first fire broke out around 12:00 p.m. on Saturday and was extinguished after three hours. The second incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. yesterday and was brought under control after nine hours.
President of the Mathikilhi and Ecogarden Management Association, Abdulla Zuhuree, told Atoll Times that the area had never experienced such extensive damage before. He said that even the eco-park walkway was burnt to the point of being unusable and would take several days to rebuild.
“It’s difficult to say how long the restoration will take. It is expected to cost about MVR 160,000, and funds will need to be raised,” Zuhuree said.
He estimated that almost the entire forest and about 80 per cent of the eco-park were destroyed in the fires. Zuhuree believes that the fires may have been set deliberately.
“The area does not catch fire by itself. Some people start fires elsewhere, and it spreads,” he explained.
