Fuvahmulah to pilot Multi-Hazard Early Warning System

Fuvahmulah City has initiated a project to establish a multihazard early warning system, bolstering its preparedness for various disasters, including those exacerbated by climate change.

This undertaking is a pilot project under the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization and Diversification (DMADD) initiative, which aims to facilitate the Maldives' digital transformation. The DMADD project is supported by a World Bank grant and will be overseen by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, with implementation by the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT).

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Dr. Mohamed Kinaanath, Minister of State for Internal Security and Technology, Fuvahmulah Mayor Ismail Rafeeq, and Erdem Atas, Country Economist and Resident Coordinator for the Maldives.

The new system will leverage the University of Salford's mobilized platforms in Fuvahmulah to assess potential damage using geographic information and weather data from satellite IoT devices. It will also provide early warning capabilities to both residents and authorities, thereby mitigating disaster-related damage and enabling timely precautionary measures.

The first phase of this two-phase pilot project, which will also include a living lab at the Fuvahmulah city council, was inaugurated on Thursday. The University of Salford in England will provide support for the system for three years.