Male’ records 136.5mm of rainfall, flooding roads

The heaviest rainfall over the Maldives in the last 24 hours was recorded in the capital, Male’ City, with 136.5 millimeters of rain, according to the national weather agency.

The Maldives Meteorological Service has attributed the current spell of bad weather to the low-pressure circulations in the Maldives as the monsoon transitions from Hulhangu to Iruvai.

According to the daily rainfall information released by the weather agency on Saturday morning, the heaviest rainfall over the last 24 hours – from 08:00 am Friday to 08:00 am Saturday – was recorded in Male’ City with 136.5 millimeters.

Hulhumale’ recorded 117 millimeters of rainfall, while B. Dharavandhoo recorded 111 millimeters.

The heavy rainfall over Male’ flooded the streets of the city. Soldiers were deployed to stack sacks of sand at the entrances of buildings as flood water seeped into homes.

ބޯކޮށް ވާރޭވެހި މާލޭގެ މަގުތަކުގައި ފެންބޮޑުވެ، ގޭބިސީތަކަށް ފެންވަންނަމުންދާތީ އެހީތެރިކަން ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުމުގެ ގޮތުން ވެލިބަސްތާ ޖެހުމުގައި އެމްއެންޑީއެފް މާލޭ އޭރިއާ ކޮމާންޑްގެ ސިފައިން ހަރަކާތްތެރިވާން ފަށައިފި. pic.twitter.com/fVytrNQgKS

— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) December 21, 2024

Soldiers also used 16 pumps to dewater the streets, including the West Park area, near the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal, Dhiraagu headquarters and Jelly pizzeria.

A white alert is in place for a large part of Maldives, with the weather agency forecasting heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas for the area from HA. Atoll to Th. Atoll, until at least 03:00 pm.

The weather agency urges everyone, especially seafarers, to exercise caution and take note of the latest weather updates and alerts.