Floods triggered by heavy rains on Friday displaced hundreds across the Maldives, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) providing temporary shelter and food to 226 people from 36 households.
Rains that began on Thursday evening inundated the capital, Malé, damaging homes and businesses. The NDMA reported receiving 774 requests for assistance due to the flooding, with 554 requesting sandbags to contain the water.
The Maldives National Meteorological Service (Met Office) said that Malé received 162 mm of rainfall and nearby Hulhumalé recorded 164 mm as of 11:00 p.m. on Friday, the highest levels of rainfall recorded across the Maldives. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said 30,569 tonnes of water were pumped out from the streets of Malé, which were severely flooded due to heavy rain.
Flooding and storm surges affected eight islands, apart from Malé, causing damage to homes and infrastructure, the NDMA said.
In Nilandhoo of Faafu Atoll, 80 percent of the island was submerged. Himmafushi and Guraidhoo in Kaafu Atoll also experienced severe flooding, with 60 percent of Himmafushi under water and 60 houses damaged in Guraidhoo. A power outage was reported in Himmafushi due to the flooding. Kudahuvadhoo and Meedhoo in Dhaalu Atoll reported damage to 10 houses each, while Magoodhoo in Faafu Atoll saw damage to nine homes and the evacuation of one. Feeali in Faafu Atoll reported one evacuation, while four houses were damaged in Maamigili, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll.
Storm surges also caused damage in Inguraidhoo of Raa Atoll and Maroshi of Shaviyani Atoll, the disaster management agency said.