226 residents from 36 households in the capital, Malé, have been relocated to temporary shelters due to heavy flooding caused by incessant rains on Friday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported.
The heavy rains resulted in extensive flooding throughout large areas of Malé, with floodwaters infiltrating residential properties and commercial establishments. Consequently, both residences and businesses, including retail outlets, suffered damage to household items and merchandise. The flooding also caused significant damage to vehicles on the streets.
The NDMA received requests for assistance from 774 households and businesses in Malé. These requests included support for installing sandbags at the entrances of homes and commercial properties, with 554 residences and businesses specifically seeking aid for sandbagging.
The NDMA also conducted rapid assessments of 53 buildings. Based on these evaluations, the NDMA relocated 226 residents from 36 homes to temporary shelters and provided them with food assistance, it said.
Severe weather conditions have persisted across the country on Friday, resulting in swell surges in Inguraidhoo, Raa Atoll, and Maroshi, Shaviyani Atoll, causing extensive damage. Heavy flooding has also been reported on other islands, including Nilandhoo in Faafu Atoll, where 80% of the island was submerged. In Kudahuvadhoo, Dhaalu Atoll, floodwaters infiltrated 10 residential properties, causing significant damage. Similar damage has been reported in Meedhoo, Magoodhoo, Maamigili, Guraidhoo, Feeali, Himmafushi, and other islands.
According to NDMA, efforts to mitigate the flooding involved coordination among officials from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Maldives Police Service (MPS), Malé City Council, and the Ministry of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works. MNDF personnel have been utilising pumps to remove floodwaters from the streets of Malé, successfully extracting over 30,569 tonnes of water from Friday until Saturday morning.
The Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) recorded the highest rainfall on Friday in the Malé region, with 142.6 millimetres of rain in Malé, 122.5 millimetres in Hulhumalé, and 144 millimetres in Hulhulé, where Velana International Airport is located. Maamigili in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll recorded the second highest rainfall with 113 millimetres.
Significant rainfall was also reported in other areas, including Thoddoo in Alifu Alifu Atoll (78.9 millimetres), Dhiffushi in Kaafu Atoll (65.1 millimetres), and Gaafaru in Kaafu Atoll (57.4 millimetres). Dharavandhoo and Goidhoo in Baa Atoll, and Kaashidhoo in Kaafu Atoll, also experienced substantial rainfall.
The Met Office issued a warning that severe weather conditions are forecasted to persist across the majority of the country on Saturday, with expectations of turbulent seas and strong winds. Authorities are advising residents to exercise caution and implement precautionary measures, including the placement of sandbags and the relocation of household items to higher elevations to mitigate potential flood damage.