MET issues orang alert to majority of Maldives

Maldives Meteorological Center (MET Office) has issued an orange alert covering the majority of the country, owing to worsening weather conditions.

The authority issued the orange alert on Wednesday morning, effective from 09:00hrs to 12:00hrs initially from Baa to Vaavu atolls, but extended the alert duration from Lhaviyani to Vaavu atolls until 16:00hrs.

MET Office later issued the alert effective from 19:30hrs to 22:30hrs from Shaviyani to Faafu atolls, on Wednesday evening.

The weather authority forecast heavy rainfall, and winds between 34 to 40 miles per hour, with gusts reaching to 60 miles per hour, with rough seas, and sea swells.

Both MET Office and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have cautioned the public, especially seafarers, to take precautionary measures, and protect from potential damages in the storm.

NDMA earlier said that a total of 12 weather-related incidents were reported in the past two weeks, with the majority of these involving incidents of roofs ripping off.