Fuvahmulah wetlands hit by another fire

A fire broke out in the wetlands area of Funaadu ward in Fuvahmulah City on Saturday night.  

The fire was reported at 22:48 by Fuvahmulah South West Councilor Aminath Inaya, who confirmed that fire and rescue personnel were working to extinguish the blaze in the grasslands of the wetlands.  

The Southern Area Command Fire Station in Fuvahmulah responded to the incident. Videos circulating on social media showed flames spreading heavily across the area.  

Councilor Inaya noted that occasional fires occur in the wetlands, raising concerns about recurring damage to the fragile ecosystem.  

ފުވައްމުލަކު ސިޓީ ފުނާޑު އަވަށު ޗަސްބިން ސަރަޙައްދުގައި އަލިފާން ރޯވެގެން އެމްއެންޑީއެފް ސަދަން އޭރިއާ ކޮމާންޑް، ފުވައްމުލަކު ފަޔަރ ސްޓޭޝަނުން ހަރަކާތްތެރިވާން ފަށައިފި. މި ހާދިސާގެ ރިޕޯޓް ލިބިފައިވަނީ މިރޭ 22:35 ހާއިރު. pic.twitter.com/TElcoXAGkl

— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) November 29, 2025

This latest incident follows a series of fires in Fuvahmulah’s wetlands:  

• In September 2025, a fire in the Hoadhandu wetlands burned about 10 percent of the area, reportedly caused by a discarded cigarette, according to Mayor Ismail Rafeeq.  

• In the same month, another fire broke out in the Dhandimagu wetlands (Dhandimagu Kulhi), which had already been set ablaze multiple times that year. Local officials suspected deliberate arson.  

Fuvahmulah’s wetlands, including Hoadhandu, Dhandimagu, and Funaadu, are among the Maldives’ most ecologically significant areas, but remain vulnerable to repeated fire incidents.