Thimarafushi, Hirilandhoo, Veymandoo faces severe flooding

Bad weather facing Maldives has resulted in severe flooding in Th. Thimarafushi and other islands of the atoll.

Vice President of Th. Atoll Council Adil Ibrahim spoke to “Sun” on Wednesday and said that Thimarafushi, Hirilandhoo and Veymandoo have suffered severe damage due to heavy rainfall and flooding. But that the Council has not yet received details regarding the extent of damage.

President of Thimarafushi Council, Hussein Shareef informed “Sun” that 80 households in the island have faced damage to household items due to flooding. And that rain has been falling on the island from Tuesday.

“The northern district of the island is completely submerged under water,” said Shareef.

He said that they have cut electricity from the island as a safety precaution due to the bad weather.

He also said that Maldives Transport and Contacting Company (MTCC) highmarks were being used to dig ditches to control the flooding. And that sacks of sand were being used to prevent flood water from seeping into households.

A household facing damage from flooding in Th. Atoll.

Shareef said that was raining heavily, and that citizens of the island had been told to brace themselves for more damage.

President of Hirilandhoo Council, Abdulla Haleel said that the floodwater reached over two feet high in the island. And that electricity was cut from the island between 9:30 am and 12 pm due to thunderstorms.

Haleel said that the Council had received information floodwater had damaged household items of 27 houses in the island, but that they had not yet received details regarding extent of damage.

He said that flood water had also affected the council office, heath center, and two commercial shops.

Citizens of the island and the council have dug up ditches to control the flooding.

Meanwhile, President of Veymandhoo Council, Abdulla Mufeed informed “Sun” that rain had been falling non-stop on the island since Wednesday morning, and that flooding had damaged items in 30 households.

Flood water flowing into the ocean in Th. Veymandoo.

Mufeed said that flooding had resulted in sewage junction overflowing, and sewage waste flooding the streets, along with rain water.

“We cannot flush the toilets. The water keeps coming up,” said Mufeed.

He said that ditches had been dud up in three areas of the island to direct floodwater out to the ocean. And that they were also working on placing sand sacks were being used to prevent floodwater from seeping into households.

He said that a tornado hit the island Wednesday morning, damaging the school and uprooting trees.

But that no student was hurt in the incident.