Intense Weather Over the Maldives Causes Damage to Several Islands

Over the past couple of days, the weather in the Maldives have been intensifying and Maldives Meteorology has been constantly cautioning the public of severe conditions that could potentially cause damage in islands across the archipelago.  

MET repoted the development of a low-pressure area into a depression, with further chances of it advancing into a cyclonic storm in the upcoming days. Even though the pathway of the development was estimated to be moving away from the North-West side of the Maldives, severe effects are possible in the geographic region of the country over the past 18 hours. It was later on declared a tropical cyclone named ‘Tuaktae’.  

With effect of this changing situation, northern islands in the Maldives have been observing uncontrolled floods and destructive winds. MET, in addition to National Disaster Management and Maldives Defense Force, has been working around the clock to contain the damages caused by floods, rough sea conditions and strong winds.  

Islands in the northern region of the Maldives, including Kulhudhuffushi, Hoarafushi, Uligan, Thuraakunu, Milandhoo, Funadhoo, Komandoo, and more. Damages to houses were mostly caused by roofs detaching under the pressure of the strong winds and flooding damaging properties. Farm lands on the islands were also destroyed under the weather.  

In the southern region, the cities of Fuvahmulah and Addu also reported damage to households by flood. Islands in the G.A. and G.Dh. Atolls were also flooded due to long hours of heavy rain.  

Authorities have been providing assistance in draining the flood on the islands and protecting households from further damage by building walls of sac-sands in the perimeters.  

MET forecasts prevailing rain and isolated heavy showers across the Maldives, associated with the southern monsoon currently being observed.