COLOMBO, Safar 13, 1436, Dec 5, 2014, SPA -- The Maldives, famous for its pristine beaches and scuba diving, has declared a state of crisis after a fire at the capital's sole water sewage treatment plant has led to a shortage of drinking water in the Indian Ocean archipelago, Reuters reported. The Maldives has appealed for aid from India, Sri Lanka, the United States and China. About 100,000 people in Male, the capital, have been left without safe water to drink from the tap, according to Mohamed Shareef, a government minister. -- SPA 22:37 LOCAL TIME 19:37 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1302796