President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has established a Task Force to address the severe weather conditions currently impacting the Maldives. The Task Force, chaired by the President, held its first meeting last night to discuss the situation and find swift solutions to mitigate the effects of the stormy weather.
President's Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed announced on social media that the Task Force aims to monitor weather-related losses and seek rapid resolutions to the problems caused by the ongoing adverse conditions. The storm has significantly disrupted daily life, prompting immediate government intervention.
The Task Force comprises nine other members, including:
In Male', over 180 households have reported flooding, with residents being relocated to temporary shelters due to uninhabitable conditions. The National Disaster Management Authority is also assisting affected families across the atolls.
In response to the severe weather, President Muizzu has declared tomorrow a government holiday, acknowledging the challenges pedestrians and motorists face due to the storm.
The Maldives is currently experiencing heavy rains, thunderstorms, rough seas, and strong winds as the southwest monsoon (Hulhan'gu) intensifies. The northern atolls are the hardest hit, with the MET Office issuing a four-hour Orange Alert for the region. Many islands in these atolls are flooded, and incessant rain showers have persisted since yesterday.
The MET Office has forecast similar stormy conditions for the next five days. Wind speeds are expected to range between 17 to 27 miles per hour in the northern and central atolls, and between 13 to 23 miles per hour in the southern atolls. Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour have been warned, and swell waves may surge at high tide, causing very rough seas across the country.
The Task Force's formation marks a critical step in the Maldives' efforts to manage the current weather crisis and protect its citizens from further harm.