The Ministry of Cities has started demolishing Orchid Plaza in Maafannu, a building that had fallen into severe disrepair and experienced multiple fire incidents over the years.
Cities Minister Adam Shareef Umar confirmed that Orchid Plaza, along with New Plaza and House Plaza, had been declared unsafe due to their deteriorated conditions and the risks they posed to public safety. Orchid Plaza is the first to be taken down under this initiative.
The three-story Orchid Plaza, once a Maldives National Shipping Limited property, has long stood abandoned. Over time, it became a hotspot for drug users and attracted complaints from nearby residents about safety concerns.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) previously reported that many of the fires in Orchid Plaza and House Plaza were linked to garbage accumulating inside the buildings.
“I apologize for any inconvenience and difficulties the public may face during this work,” Minister Adam Shareef said.