The bodies of two men who died in an explosion in Haa Dhaal Makunudhoo have been sent to India to their families.
Police said their bodies were sent home on Tuesday at the request of their families.
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.
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.
