Heavy Rain Floods Hundreds of Homes in Malé and the Northern Atolls

Heavy rain since 21 October has flooded homes, shops and roads in Malé and across the northern atolls, with the worst damage reported in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

On Nolhivaram, about 95% of homes had been flooded by 23 October, the authority said in an update that evening. Families were moving to other houses, and the island council had asked the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) for help, according to an earlier update.

The Maldives Meteorological Service said on 21 October that the southwest monsoon had strengthened because of low-pressure areas over the southwest Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Its weather brief forecast rain across the country and strong winds over the northern and central atolls from 22 to 24 October.

Malé

The service issued an orange warning for torrential rain with possible flooding from Kaafu Atoll to Vaavu Atoll, including Malé, from 8.50pm to 10.30pm on 21 October.

That night, the NDMA said pumps had been placed in 10 areas of Malé to drain floodwater. The MNDF Fire and Rescue Service, police, the Maldivian Red Crescent, Malé City Council, MTCC and the Housing Development Corporation were taking part, and the authority had given the council 10,000 sacks for sandbags.

By 10pm, 21 houses had asked for sandbags after water entered, the authority said. Water had entered 16 shops, two restaurants and two clinics, and four government buildings were affected. One house reported a sewage leak.

An update covering the period to 11pm listed sandbag requests from 89 properties: 33 houses, 35 shops, six cafés and restaurants, four schools, two clinics, two warehouses, five other government and private buildings, an office building and a construction site. The authority said 31 had received help.

On 24 October, Malé City Council said burials at the Hulhumalé cemetery had been suspended because 8 to 9 inches of water was collecting in graves when they were dug. Burials have moved to Malé’s Aasahara cemetery.

Northern Atolls

The service issued a second orange warning, for Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu atolls, from 4.15am to 6.15am on 23 October.

By that morning, more than 190 households in Kulhudhuffushi had reported flooding, the NDMA said. The city council, police, the MNDF Fire and Rescue Service and the Maldivian Red Crescent were draining water. On Nolhivaranfaru, more than 60 houses reported water rising through their floors and damage to belongings, though the authority said residents did not yet need to be evacuated.

In its evening update, the NDMA said seven pumps were in use in Kulhudhuffushi and that work was under way to move more than 140 people from 18 houses temporarily to two schools. Police were helping to drain Nolhivaram, and residents of the worst-affected houses on Nolhivaranfaru had moved to other homes.

Water entered about 10 houses on Nellaidhoo and three on Kumundhoo, where food supplies were destroyed. Vaikaradhoo’s farmland suffered major damage, although no homes were damaged there, the authority said.

In Haa Alifu Atoll, floodwater on Filladhoo, Kelaa and Maarandhoo was drained by cutting channels to the sea, and sandbags were laid on Dhidhdhoo and Ihavandhoo. Water entered one house each on Kelaa, Maarandhoo and Dhidhdhoo. Roads flooded on seven other islands without damage to homes.

On Naifaru, in Lhaviyani Atoll, water entered 16 houses and residents of two were moved. The NDMA said it was working with the council to provide three days of food and accommodation to those affected.

Rain Eases

On the afternoon of 24 October, the NDMA said pumping had stopped in Kulhudhuffushi and the situation was under control. No one there had moved into temporary shelter, it said, and residents of two houses had moved to guesthouses.

On Nolhivaram, the rain had stopped but many houses were still flooded, with two pumps and six channels in use. Water had drained from much of Nolhivaranfaru and was receding on Naifaru, where damage was being assessed.

The service’s most recent alert, issued on 23 October, was a white alert for strong winds of 19 to 24 mph, gusts of 40 mph and rough seas from Haa Alifu to Vaavu until 1am on 24 October.

Its seasonal outlook, published on 17 October, said above-normal rainfall was likely across the Maldives from October to December. Its October outlook had forecast above-normal rainfall for the northern and central atolls.