The airport-bound lane of the Sinamalé Bridge will be closed this evening from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. as part of the Airport Full-Scale Emergency Exercise (AFEX) at Velana International Airport (VIA).

According to officials, the exercise is held to test VIA’s emergency plan, the standard operating procedures of relevant institutions, and the emergency response plan of the participating airline. This year, Qatar Airways is the partner airline for the exercise.

While airport operations will continue without interruption, the Maldives Police Service will manage traffic on the bridge during the closure.

AFEX is a mandatory activity conducted under the requirements of the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure VIA’s emergency preparedness.

The last AFEX at VIA was held in 2022. This year’s exercise involves 32 agencies and 391 volunteers.