Five people were injured after a gas cylinder exploded at a café in Hulhumalé on Sunday morning, triggering a fire and forcing customers to evacuate.
The incident occurred at around 10:00 am at a café near Ruggandu 1, according to the Maldives Police Service. Police said five people sustained injuries of varying severity, with four taken to Hulhumalé Hospital for medical treatment.
All four hospitalised individuals are foreign nationals employed at the café, police confirmed. No customers were injured in the incident.
Officers from the Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Fire and Rescue Service responded to the incident. The fire had already been extinguished by the time emergency personnel arrived.
Despite the explosion and subsequent fire, police reported no damage to the café building or its kitchen equipment. Several plates were broken as customers hurried towards the exit after hearing the explosion.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
Gas-related incidents have been a recurring concern in the Maldives. Official data have previously shown hundreds of gas leak incidents over recent years, with defective cylinder caps and packing among common causes.
Authorities have advised the public to check the condition of gas cylinders upon delivery and to avoid using electrical switches or devices that create sparks in the event of a suspected leak.
