President promises assistance as Male' faces severe flooding

Aug 13, 2024, 11:31 AM
Photo: Adhadhu

Photo: Adhadhu

Continuous rains since Tuesday morning have flooded parts of the capital Male' city.

The country has been experiencing the intensifying effects of the southwest monsoon since Sunday.

Nine islands reported flooding on Monday, but the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said no evacuation was needed.

The deluge in Male' on Tuesday afternoon obstructed pedestrians and vehicles while some houses were also affected by flood waters.

Photo: Adhadhu
Photo: Adhadhu

Photo: Adhadhu

"The MNDF Fire and Rescue Service is working to drain waters in some areas of the Male'," the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said.

Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon said the army has been deployed to assist the people.

Meanwhile, the Maldives Meteorology Service (Met Office) has issued an orange alert for Male', with heavy rain expected to continue until tonight.

"The Maldives Meteorological Service has forecast heavy rains and rough seas. Therefore, people are advised not to travel by sea unless necessary," the police said.

In a post on X, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said the flooding faced in Male' can be solved when a road development project is completed.

The President said one of the objectives of the Chinese-funded project is to solve the flooding problem in Male'.

“I assure you that the government will continue to give top priority to assist all those affected by the current rains in the atolls and Male',” the President added.

Photo: Adhadhu
Photo: Adhadhu

Photo: Adhadhu

The project to develop all the roads in Male' and Villimale' was announced during the parliamentary election campaign.

He stated the project would be carried out under China's free aid. The government has signed a letter of exchange (LOE) with China Aid to raise funds for the feasibility study.

Construction Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib said the project will cost more than USD 100 million.

The government awarded the design and survey of the Villimale' roads to the Road Development Corporation (RDC) in January. But there has been no update on the work.

Comments

Read More

Latest News

Abdulla Shahid arrested over alleged sexual assault

Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was arrested following allegations of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old. Police took Shahid into custody after searching his residence in Hulhumale'. Shahid has denied the claims, calling them a baseless attempt at political character assassination.

MDP submits resolution for referendum over Rasmale' deal

The MDP has submitted a resolution to the Maldivian Parliament seeking a public referendum on the Rasmalé project. The vote would decide whether to grant land to a UAE-based firm for a development allowing foreign residency. The party argues that the long-term implications for national interests require direct public consultation.

Court orders Adhadhu to surrender passwords for seized devices

The Criminal Court has ordered Adhadhu newsroom to provide passwords for four seized MacBooks following a police raid over the "Aisha" documentary. Data extraction must occur before a media commission representative to protect legal privilege. The court emphasized that any evidence gathered must remain confidential and specific to the case.

Rasmale' deal could end Maldivian identity: Jameel

Former VP Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed warns that leasing Rasmalé land to a UAE firm for 99 years threatens the Maldives' identity. He claims international law will force the nation to allow religious freedom and temples for foreign residents, effectively ending the country's status as a sovereign entity defined by a single religion.

Former Chairman of Dhiraagu passes away

Rilwan Shareef, the former Chairman of Dhiraagu and a veteran state official, has passed away while receiving treatment at IGMH. Throughout his distinguished career, he served as a State Minister and held leadership roles at Villa Air and the Maldives Stock Exchange. Details regarding the cause of his death have not been disclosed.

Government workforce increased by 6500 in three years

The government workforce grew by 6,530 employees over the last three years, reaching a total of 55,466. This rapid recruitment has driven the national wage bill to a projected MVR 14.4 billion for next year. The current administration's hiring rate significantly outpaces the previous three-year period.

Rasmale' is an economic concept, says Salaf President

Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed Ibrahim, President of Jamiyyathul Salaf, clarified that the Rasmalé project is an economic concept rather than a plan to settle non-Muslims. He dismissed claims of religious concerns as political distortion, emphasizing that the area is intended for high-income residents with legal safeguards in place.

Newsletter

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox