Heavy Rain Flood Homes in Noonu Maafaru

At least 10 homes in Noonu Maafaru were affected by flooding after heavy rain battered the island on Friday, prompting emergency response efforts by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

According to Maafaru Council President Mohamed Abdul Ghani, the heavy rain began at around 2:15 pm and continued until sunset. The downpour resulted in unusually severe flooding across parts of the island, leading the council to seek assistance from the MNDF to manage rising floodwaters.

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MNDF personnel began response efforts at around 3:30 pm, constructing trenches to improve water drainage and placing sandbags at the entrances of homes and buildings to prevent floodwater from entering properties.

Despite these measures, floodwater entered at least 10 homes. In some cases, water reached as far as bedrooms. While no reports of major property damage had been received, concerns remain over potential damage to household items, particularly wooden furniture.

The MNDF said it placed approximately 130 sandbags around affected areas during the operation. Dewatering efforts continued throughout the evening and were completed shortly after midnight, with the military reporting that operations concluded at around 12:17 am on Saturday.

The flooding in Maafaru came as widespread rainfall affected many parts of the Maldives on Friday.

According to the Maldives Meteorological Service, rainy conditions are expected to continue on Saturday. The agency forecasts that weather conditions will gradually improve across much of the country over the next two days, although scattered showers may persist in southern regions.