Soldiers deployed at President’s orders amid widespread flooding

Soldiers have been deployed at President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s orders as torrential rain causes widespread flooding across the Maldives.

The rain, which began lashing the country on Saturday night, continues well into Sunday evening. This has resulted in severe flooding, including in the capital, Male’.

In a post on X, the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said that President Muizzu, as the Commander-in-Chief of the MNDF, has ordered them to assist in alleviating the difficulties faced by people in Male’ and across the atolls due to the bad weather.

Soldiers from all area commands have been deployed in this national endeavor, said the MNDF in the post.

The MNDF and the police are collaborating with local councils to dewater flooded streets and stack sand bags in entrances of buildings to prevent flood water from seeping in.

Maldives Meteorological Service has issued orange alert for torrential rain, thunderstorms, and possible flooding from K. Atoll to ADh. Atoll. The alert is effective from 03:15 pm to 05:30 pm Sunday.

Meanwhile, a yellow alert for torrential rain and thunderstorms with gust winds of 45 miles per hour and rough seas is in effect for the area from N. Atoll to L. Atoll.

Maldives has been experiencing bad weather since last week, due to the onset of the Northeast Monsoon (Iruvai Monsoon).

The national weather forecast service said the bad weather has been exacerbated by a low-pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea.

The bad weather has prompted the government to postpone the New Year’s Eve music and fireworks show, indefinitely.