Bandaara Kilhi Boardwalk in Fuvahmulah Vandalised 

Railings along the Bandaara Kilhi boardwalk in Fuvahmulah have been torn down and thrown into the marshland, in what the City Council described as a repeated act of vandalism targeting one of the island’s most valued natural sites. 

In a post shared on Facebook, the Fuvahmulah City Council said it was deeply saddened by the destruction, noting that the boardwalk is a source of pride for the island and a popular attraction for both local residents and international visitors. The council urged the public to refrain from damaging public property and to help protect the site. A video was shared with the post, which showed that some of the railing were thrown into the wetland after breaking it from the boardwalk. 

Bandaara Kilhi is part of Fuvahmulah’s protected wetland ecosystem and is widely recognised for its ecological significance and natural beauty.

The vandalism comes amid broader environmental concerns in the city’s wetlands. On 30 November, a fire broke out in the wetlands of Funaadu, a district in the city, affecting an area of grassland within the protected ecosystem. The incident prompted a response from fire and rescue personnel of the Southern Area Command Fire Station.

The fire was followed by another blaze in the Hoadhandu wetland in September of last year. The fire burned approximately 10 per cent of the area, with officials at the time attributing the cause to a discarded cigarette. Another fire occurred that same month in the Dhandimagu wetlands, an area previously affected by multiple fires earlier in the year, with local authorities suspecting deliberate arson.

The City Council has called for greater public awareness and collective responsibility to safeguard Fuvahmulah’s unique wetland ecosystems from further harm.