Flooding affects over 70 homes in Feydhoo, one home rendered uninhabitable

Over 70 homes in the Feydhoo district of Addu City have reported damage from flooding amid widespread rain across the country, with one of the houses rendered uninhabitable, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Areas across the Maldives have been affected by heavy rain since earlier this week, with orange alert for torrential rain and flooding issued for areas in the south such as Addu City and Fuvahmulah City.

The NDMA reported on Friday that over 30 homes in Feydhoo reported flood damage.

On Saturday, the authority announced the number of homes affected had risen to over 70.

According to the NDMA, the homes sustained various extents of flood damage. One of the houses suffered extensive damage, disrupting access to essential services and rendering it uninhabitable. The eight people living in the house have been moved to a temporary shelter.

Flooding also damaged two more homes in the Maradhoo district of Addu, as it continues to rain heavily over Addu, Fuvahmulah, GA. Atoll, GDh. Atoll, and parts of central Maldives.

The heavy rain caused flooding in a large part of Fuvahmulah, with the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), police and local councils engaged in efforts to dewater islands affected by flooding.

They are also working on stacking sand bags at entrances to homes, shops and office buildings to prevent flood water from sweeping in, and implementing additional safety measures.

The NDMA noted that the Maldives Meteorological Service forecasts the bad weather conditions to persist over the next 24 years, and advised safety measures against flooding, as well as when travelling.

The Meteorological Service forecasts fairly widespread rain with occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms across the country on Saturday.

The weather agency also forecasts north/north westerly winds of 13 – 23 miles per hour, with gusts of 40 miles per hour during showers.

Seas are expected to be rough with waves of 3 – 7 feet.