Repairs stalled by continued toilet use at Hiyaa 5

Concerns have been raised that, despite directives to avoid bathroom use during repairs to fire-damaged pipes at Hiyaa Tower 5, some residents continue to use toilets, exposing workers to sewage while fixing the system. 

The damage caused in Friday's fire to the main sewerage pipes at apartments 6 and 7 on the floors of Hiyaa Tower 5 are being repaired by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). The fire, believed to have originated in an AC outdoor unit, damaged pipes in 38 flats. 

The fire also destroyed 34 AC outdoor units beyond use, and caused damage to windows facing the air vent. 

As repair work is being done, HDC instructed residents to avoid using two bathrooms in the flats, and to provide access to the third bathroom. 

Despite the directive, some residents continue to use the bathrooms, which has obstructed repair work from proceeding at the desired pace, a source close to the work said. 

Some Hiyaa Tower residents have been raising concerns about this in community Viber groups as well. 

Group members noted that, despite officials visiting each flat during repair work to request avoidance of bathroom use, some residents continued to disregard the instructions. 

"When residents in flats 6 and 7 use bathrooms while HDC staff are repairing the pipes, sewage is spilled there. These are not children, for this to have to be explained in such detail. They've gone to each apartment individually asking them to stop using the toilets until the issue is resolved. What more can they say?", one resident wrote in the Viber group. 

Residents urged everyone to show respect to the repairmen, appealing to all to cooperate as the issue is being fixed, without posing unnecessary obstruction. 

"The repairmen are also humans. While they are working, this is causing excrement to fall on their heads. This is a sorry state of affairs."

An HDC Official also told Mihaaru News that they have been receiving complaints of such incidents occurring while repair work is ongoing. 

They stated that the majority of residents are cooperating with repair efforts, but as some apartments are locked, workers are hindered in attending to some repairs that can be done only through accessing the flats. 

Issues such as these are causing delays, the official said. 

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has provided temporary housing to residents of apartments affected by the fire. 

Those in need of assistance due to Friday's fire incident are urged to reach out to NDMA through their emergency hotline 115.