The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an update on the record-breaking rainfall of January 3, 2025, which caused severe flooding across Malé and several islands in the Maldives, disrupting daily life, damaging properties, and displacing hundreds.

The Maldives Meteorological Service reported 16.9mm of rain in Malé between midnight on 3 January and midnight on 4 January. The heaviest downpour occurred between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on 3 January, when an extraordinary 109.8mm of rain fell within three hours—setting a historic record for the capital.

To mitigate the flooding, Malé City Council distributed 20,000 sandbags. Despite these efforts, the flooding was extensive, prompting over 740 requests for assistance from homes, businesses, schools, and storage facilities. For 53 households, daily activities such as cooking, eating, and sleeping were severely disrupted. Rapid assessments revealed that 27 households, comprising 226 individuals, required temporary shelter.

Meanwhile, damage assessments are ongoing for 145 homes in the city. Evaluations have been completed for 115 properties, while 13 were deemed unnecessary to assess. However, 17 homes remain unassessed due to challenges in reaching their owners or accessing the premises.

According to NDMA, the flooding in Malé has already caused damages amounting to MVR 2.2 million to residential properties alone, excluding losses sustained by businesses and storage facilities.

The heavy rain also affected the atolls, where tidal surges and flooding were reported on multiple islands. R. Inguraidhoo and Sh. Narudhoo experienced tidal wave surges, while eight other islands, including F. Nilandhoo, Dh. Meedhoo, and K. Guraidhoo, suffered flooding.

Across four islands, 73 homes were damaged to varying degrees. Assessment forms have been submitted for affected properties, with 43 forms from Dh. Meedhoo and 22 from F. Nilandhoo among the most notable reports.

Preliminary estimates suggest residential property damage across the islands totals approximately MVR 800,000 excluding agricultural losses, business impacts, and damage to storage facilities.

The relief response has been extensive and costly. Flood response operations alone incurred MVR 61,500, while temporary shelter, food, and drinking water for displaced residents required an additional MVR 200,000. This event has marked the Maldives’ largest flood response operation to date, with the highest number of individuals needing temporary shelter in Malé due to rainfall.

NDMA has stepped in to provide assistance under the Disaster Management Act. Comprehensive damage assessments and support efforts are still underway.