32 people moved from flood-affected Male’ homes

Dozens of people were moved to temporary shelters on Saturday, after torrential rain caused flooding in Male’ City.

The Maldives Meteorological Service has attributed the current spell of bad weather to the low-pressure circulations in the Maldives as the monsoon transitions from Hulhangu to Iruvai.

The heaviest rainfall over the Maldives in the last 24 hours was recorded in the capital, Male’ City, with 136.5 millimeters of rain.

The heavy rainfall over Male’ flooded the streets of the city. Soldiers were deployed to stack sacks of sand at the entrances of buildings as flood water seeped into homes.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 32 people from eight homes have been moved to temporary shelters.

“These individuals were provided temporary shelter as their homes were rendered inhabitable with no way for them to eat, sleep or use the toilet,” said the NDMA.

ފެންބޮޑުވެފައިވާ ސަރަހައްދުތަކުގައި ވެލިބަސްތާ ޖެހުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް @MNDF_Official އަދި @MaleCitymv
އިން ވަނީ ފަށާފައި! pic.twitter.com/01wK6b86Ft

— NDMA Maldives (@NDMAmv) December 21, 2024

The NDMA added that soldiers and city council workers have stacked 229 sacks of sand at the entrances of 47 buildings to prevent flood water from seeping in.

Soldiers also used 16 pumps to dewater the streets, including the West Park area, near the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal, Dhiraagu headquarters and Jelly pizzeria.

A white alert is in place for a large part of Maldives, with the weather agency forecasting heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas for the area from HA. Atoll to Th. Atoll, until at least 03:00 pm.

An addition white alert has also been issued for the area from L. Atoll to Addu from 02:30 pm to 08:00 pm.

The weather agency urges everyone, especially seafarers, to exercise caution and take note of the latest weather updates and alerts.