The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) announced today the successful completion of a massive water drainage operation in Male’, where relentless rains had left the entire city submerged. The operation, executed with precision and efficiency, resulted in the removal of an astonishing 30,569 tons of water from the city streets.
The downpour, which began around 11:00 am yesterday, inflicted significant damage on residential and commercial properties as water inundated buildings and vehicles. Despite the challenging circumstances, MNDF teams swiftly responded by deploying pumps across six strategic locations in Male’. Commencing at 11:37 am, their dedicated efforts continued until approximately 8:30 pm, culminating in the extraction of over 30 million liters of water from the flooded areas.
MNDF’s commitment to restoring normalcy is evident in their impressive drainage rate, with approximately 24,397 liters of water being removed every minute during the nearly 21-hour operation. Some streets saw water levels rise to knee height, particularly in Maafannu, necessitating the creation of a channel to the sea near Rasfannu to expedite drainage when progress slowed.
The Meteorological Office reported that the heaviest rainfall occurred between 5-6 pm, with a recorded 60 millimeters of precipitation. In response to the crisis, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has extended temporary shelter and food assistance to 226 individuals from 36 households affected by water damage.
Beyond Male’, severe weather has impacted other parts of the nation. Islands faced destructive tidal waves and flooding that damaged additional homes. However, there is optimism on the horizon as weather conditions are expected to gradually improve within the next 48 hours, according to meteorological forecasts.
