Swell waves sweep Narudhoo amid incomplete breakwater

Swell waves swept Sh. Nurudhoo last night causing significant damage as the island’s breakwater remained incomplete.

Speaking with Sun, Narudhoo Council President Mohamed Mustharusidh noted that the island regularly sees swell waves. However, he said the island, this time around, recorded significant damage due to the fact that physical works on its breakwater remained incomplete.

In this regard, Mustharusidh said Narudhoo was heavily flooded after swell waves swept the island during high tide last night. A team from Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) is presently undertaking efforts to drain the floods, he added.

According to Mustharusidh, some 12 homes have recorded significant damage due to floods.

“The island is flooded. Some eight to 12 houses have recorded significant damage. They include [damage to] household items and kitchen appliances. Food produces that have been planted have also been destroyed or recorded damage to various extend,” he detailed.

Mustharusidh stressed that the Council, anticipating this result, had appealed to the Ministry for the completion of breakwater before the northeast monsoon. Citing discussions had been held with ministry officials in this regard, Mustharusidh described the failure to see to the completion of the breakwater as negligence on the Ministry’s side.

“We had brought this to the attention ahead of time. We said that these things needed to be done before the northeast monsoon, warning this could be the result if not acted upon. We believe this to be negligence due to the way things have unfolded without accomplishing this,” he said.

Speaking further, Mustharusidh said Narudhoo’s old harbor, including its channel, has been destroyed beyond use. As such, he emphasized that the Ministry has been notified over the difficulties the island will face in bringing in goods including food supply as vessels would not enter the harbor under such circumstances.

State-owned MTCC which was contracted Narudhoo harbor development commenced physical works on the project in 2023. The project valued at MVR 41.34 million was contracted to be completed within a period of one year.

Notably, Narudhoo Council has previously stopped MTCC from removing materials brought to the island for the project before its completion.