Planes diverted from VIA due to bad weather

Bad weather has forced the diversion of several planes scheduled to land at the Velana International Airport (VIA) in Male'.

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)’s Corporate Communications Manager Shamman Shakir told Sun that five planes, including international and domestic, were diverted due to torrential rain and strong winds on Sunday.

The planes included an international flight from Colombo to Male' and a domestic flight which was diverted from Male' to Maamigili, and back again to Male'.

“The flights were diverted to the safest airport because of poor visibility,” said Shamman.

Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) states widespread rain is expected to prevail across Maldives throughout the week.

It has been raining heavily in Male’ since Sunday afternoon, flooding the streets of the congested capital.