MVR 1.4 million in damages to Male’ amid severe weather conditions

Male’ City Mayor Shifa Mohamed, on Friday, announced the severe weather affecting the country has resulted in an estimated MVR 1.4 million in damages in the capital.

Severe weather conditions are being experienced across the country, with several islands, mostly located in southern Maldives, reporting damages.

The worst-hit was Addu City – where nearly 200 residences reported extensive flooding.

The Maldivian capital Male’ City was also affected by torrential rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, which threw away roofs, felled trees, caused swell wave surges, and flooded the streets.

The storm caused extensive damages to the Rasfannu beach, a landmark located in the western end of the capital. Swell waves eroded the beach, leaving it visibly fractured and littered with toppled over umbrellas and debris.

Mayor Shifa Mohamed highlighted the damages in an appearance at a National Emergency Operations Center press briefing on Friday.

“The rain due to the change in weather resulted in MVR 1.4 million in damages to Male’ alone,” she said.

She said the Male’ City Council was working on repairing the damages.

The severe weather has also resulted in an increase in maritime accidents, and the Maldives Meteorological Service has urged caution.

The severe weather comes as the country battles to curb an outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Maldives identified its first coronavirus case on March 7, and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic four days later on March 11.

While coronavirus cases had initially been restricted to resorts and safaris, and later quarantine facilities holding inbound travelers, Male’ City identified its first coronavirus case on April 15, prompting a city-wide lockdown and a nationwide ban on nonessential travel.

The populous capital has since become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, contributing to over 1,500 of the country’s 1,591 cases.

Health authorities confirmed 78 new coronavirus cases on Friday, less than a day after the country began easing restrictions.