The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has warned caution over the current hazardous air pollution levels in the capital Male’ urging children to stay indoors and adults to wear face masks when outside.
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MET Office) said the atmosphere in the Maldives has become polluted due to smoke drifting from the Indian subcontinent, a phenomenon typically observed at the beginning of the northeast monsoon which extends from January to March.
MET Office expects the air quality to worsen in the next 24 hours.
The tracker installed by the Maldives National University's Center for Maritime to monitor air quality shows that the air quality in the Male’ region was 137 at 1pm on Sunday.
The air quality level would pose health risks, according to health officials especially to people with pre-existing health conditions and children.
The air quality is expected to remain at hazardous levels until sunset on Sunday, the data showed.
HPA has urged caution due to potential health risks that may be caused due to poor air quality. The authority urged those with respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions and different allergies to minimise outdoor activities, and to use masks when stepping outside.
HPA has also advised children, pregnant women and the elderly to stay indoors as much as possible during the hazy period.