Malé City Mayor Adam Azim has said overnight flooding in the capital was made worse by the removal of backup pumps without an adequate contingency plan.
Speaking after heavy rain left water standing on many streets and entering buildings, Azim pointed to the lack of reserve pumping capacity as a key factor. City authorities and NDMA teams worked through the night to clear water from homes, shops and other premises.
More than 80 locations reported flooding, according to NDMA. The meteorological service recorded roughly 90 millimetres of rain in 24 hours. Response measures included the distribution of thousands of sandbags and the deployment of available pumps.
The mayor’s comments have added to discussion about the capital’s drainage infrastructure and preparedness for intense rainfall events that occur during the southwest monsoon. City council and national agencies continue to manage the immediate impacts while longer-term drainage improvements remain under review.
