Two foreign men working on a land reclamation and beach protection project in Haa Dhaal Makunudhoo were killed in an explosion on Saturday.
Police stated that initial reports suggest they were killed after a gas cylinder exploded near the fish market in Makunudhoo harbor.
A person who spoke from the island confirmed that the explosion occurred when a gas cylinder exploded during welding work in the harbor.
Big Fish Maldives Pvt Ltd was contracted for the land reclamation and beach protection in Makunudhoo. Bison Maldives is doing the work as a sub-contractor.
The two deceased Bison employees were identified as Mohammad Raja Ansari, 27, and Sudhira Sethy, 25.
Mohammad Raja Ansari and Sudira Sethi were killed in the explosion.
An eyewitness told Adhadhu that one of them had his head separated from the body and the other had serious injuries on the body.
The explosion was so powerful that parts of their bodies were scattered more than 200 feet away, the eyewitness stated.
Photos of the incident circulating on social media show a very powerful explosion. The ceiling of a building in the area was damaged and glass was broken while nearby vehicles were also damaged.
Police forensic teams are now on the island for an investigation and the entire area was closed off to the public on Saturday evening.
In a statement sent to the media, police said the incident occurred at the sewerage works site on the island.
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is also investigating the incident. Police said further information will be shared as it becomes available.
