Nasheed: Friday’s events will repeat if global warming continues

Former president and climate activist Mohamed Nasheed states continued global warming would lead to the Maldives seeing a repetition of the events on Friday.

The majority of Maldivian capital Male’ was heavily flooded on Friday following nonstop rain throughout the day. Authorities drained a total 30,000 tonnes of water from Male’ roads in a 21-hour operation carried out from Friday morning to Saturday morning.

Nasheed, via a post on X, expressed concern over the matter. He shared a video of the flooded Male’ road, citing there will be a repetition of such incidents “if we continue to heat the planet”.

Bad floods in Male’ today. If we continue to heat the planet we will see more of these. Maldives cannot expect any Loss and Damage funds. We had no part in causing this but have to pay for it. That is the injustice of climate change. pic.twitter.com/Wo0wGPnFUy

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) January 4, 2025

He stressed that Maldives cannot expect and Loss and Damage Funds, adding while we had no part in climate change, we have to pay for it.

“That is the injustice of climate change,” he added.

According to National Disaster Manager Agency (NDMA), 226 residents from 36 homes in Male’ City that were impacted by flooding were provided temporary shelter and food as damage to their residences rendered them uninhabitable at that time.

Eight islands also reported damage from severe floods caused by heavy rain and two islands reported damage from floods caused by swell waves during high tides. 

Maldives, a low-lying country, is more susceptible to the impacts of climate change such as sea level rising.