Essential repairs to the desalination plant in Maldives capital Male severely damaged in a fire four days ago would take an estimated 20 million U.S. dollars, an official said on Sunday as authorities scrambled to provide water to over 130,000 people.

Water services to the capital Male were shut off on Thursday after a crippling fire damaged crucial components of the island's sole desalination facility, the Male Water and Sewerages Company ( MWSC), leaving thousands of people without water for bathing, cleaning, and cooking.

Authorities have acknowledged that damage to the capital's desalination plant is extensive, and could take between three days and a week to get it fully repaired.

"We will need to import equipment to complete the repair and we expect costs to be around 20 million U.S. dollars," Minister of Defence Mohamed Nazim who heads the task force dealing with the crisis told reporters.

He insisted repairs carried out at the MWSC has shown progress with sporadic water production being distributed to some parts of the capital but admitted the damage was more extensive than initially expected.

Large numbers of homes, hotels, shops and restaurants are either still without water or have access only at ground level resulting in long lines forming at water distribution centers.

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Saturday cut short a personal trip to Malaysia where his son is reported to be receiving medical treatment to deal with the crisis.

Fresh supplies of water continue to arrive from abroad, most notably from China and India, with distribution being carried out by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) with the assistance of local non-governmental organizations alongside numerous private businesses.

The Maldives government has set up water distribution centers at schools and other public spaces, with each person allowed two 1. 5 liter bottles.