Kulhudhuffushi City has begun preparations to become the first city in the Maldives to receive UNESCO's Tsunami Ready recognition.

As part of the initiative, disaster preparedness measures are being strengthened across the city to improve readiness for emergencies and natural disasters. Evacuation maps and safety information showing designated safe areas and emergency procedures are currently being installed in different parts of the city.

Public buildings, including mosques and schools, have also been designated as evacuation centres where residents can seek shelter during disasters. In addition, an emergency warning system has been established to deliver alerts through mosque loudspeakers, enabling authorities to quickly inform residents when a disaster warning is issued.

The project aims to strengthen community preparedness and build a society that is ready to respond to emergencies at any time. UNESCO's Tsunami Ready recognition is an international certification awarded to communities that meet a set of disaster preparedness standards.

Once the initiative is completed, Kulhudhuffushi will become the first city in the Maldives to receive the certification, serving as a model for disaster preparedness and resilience. The initiative is also expected to encourage other islands across the country to establish similar preparedness systems.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) aims to secure UNESCO's Tsunami Ready recognition for every inhabited island in the Maldives as part of efforts to achieve the national resilience target set by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu for 2030. The recognition is expected to serve as an important international milestone in the country's efforts to build a more disaster-resilient Maldives.