NDMC requests to store food incase traveling becomes impossible

National Disaster Management Center (NDMC) has requested to store food as a precaution to severe weather conditions impedes the transportation of staple goods.

Speaking at a joint press conference by the NDMC, MNDF Coastguard and the Defence Ministry, the Minster of Defence, Adam Shareef Umar said that the seas are becoming unsually turbulant in the continuing rains. And if it get'se worse, it is advisible to store staple goods and use with care expecting the transporation of staple and other goods to be delayed.

The MET Office issued a Yellow Alert to the northern and central atolls saying that winds are expected to pick up up to 55 mph during showers.

At the press conference today, Commander of the Coastguard, Colonel Mohamed Ibrahim said that travellers need to be more responsible when travelling.

He said that some are traveling without the necessary safety equipment during a Yellow Alert. "No pump, (comm) set now working properly. So in such a weather, we repeatedly advise travelers to look up the weather and inform us while travelling."

Colonel Mohamed Ibrahim said that said winds have been observed to be stronger than previous occasions and the winds in this torrential rain is strong enough to capsize a vessel.

NDMC said that damages have been reported from 14 islands so far in the torrential rain affecting the country. Help and assistance is being provided to the affected islands by the NDMC.