Tidal waves cause huge damages to southern islands

Flood on GDH. Rathafandhoo island road, an school girl crossing the road yesterday.

After reports had come in that several islands across the Maldives have been hit by tidal waves and had caused damages to property, several islands were still being hit by tidal waves even last night.

According to information received from atoll offices, 18 islands from seven atolls have experienced the waves around 9:15pm and 12:30am last night. Southern islands were mostly known to have suffered from the tidal waves.

The waves had hit Haa Alifu atoll Hoarafushi island in the north as well around 10:30pm last night. The waves had flooded the island, around 20 feet away from the beach though no damages were inflicted on any properties.

Tidal waves had hit Shaviyani atoll Bileffahi twice around 9:30pm and 10:15pm. The waves had made around a 200-foot incursion into the island. Maroshi from the same atoll also experienced the waves around 10:00pm.

Alifu Dhaalu atoll Dhidhdhoo had experienced small tidal waves around 10:30pm last night. According to the atoll office no serious damages had occurred.

Thaa atoll experienced the waves around 10:00pm last night and the waves had made a 100-foot incursion into the island. The waves had hit Thimarafushi between 10:00pm and 11:00pm last night and had flooded the houses that were situated on the beach. According to the atoll office, Kinbidhoo was still experiencing the tidal waves at the time of this report (made last night) and Gaadhifushi also had suffered the waves around 11:00pm and 12:00pm last night.

From southern Laamu atoll, Kunahandhoo had experienced the tidal waves only last night. From Gaafu Dhaalu atoll the waves had struck Nadalla, Hoadeddhoo, Madaveli, Rathafandhoo, Gaddhoo and Fares-Maathodaa. The waves mostly hit Fares-Maathodaa and Gaddhoo from the atoll. Due to the waves nearly all the residents of Fares-Maathodaa were staying on boats that were docked in the lagoon. The whole island was reportedly flooded.

At the time of this report, Gaddhoo was still experiencing waves last night though not as much as waves the island had experienced during daytime yesterday.

In southernmost Addu atoll, the waves were mostly experienced by Maradhoo around 10:53pm last night. According to Addu atoll office, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Feydhoo had experienced waves between 10:00pm and 11:30pm last night.

According to atoll offices of Haa Dhaalu, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Lhaviyani, Kaafu, Alifu Alifu, Vaavu, Meemu, Faafu, Dhaalu, Gaafu Alifu and Gnaviyani, the islands in these atolls had not been hit by any waves last night.