The Maldives Police Service has appealed to the public not to drive heavy vehicles on the roads of Malé due to current flooding conditions.

From sunset on Saturday evening, heavy rainfall has been affecting a large portion of the central Maldives including the Malé region, prompting the Maldives Meteorological Service to issue an orange alert for the area. The continuous rain in the Malé region has caused flooding on many roads.

Government agencies have mobilised to drain water, place sandbags to protect areas susceptible to flooding, and monitor the welfare of the general public.

In a statement just released, the Police Service stated that due to heavy rainfall, roads in Malé are flooded and incidents of water entering homes have been occurring. Therefore, they appeal to the public not to drive heavy vehicles on the roads until the water recedes and road conditions return to normal.

In addition to heavy vehicles, the Police has also appealed to the public not to drive four-wheeled vehicles on the roads of Malé at this time unless absolutely necessary.

The Police has acknowledged and thanked the public for their cooperation and assistance during such situations.

The Maldives Meteorological Service forecasts that heavy rain will continue in the Malé region for approximately the next three hours.

In response to the heavy rainfall, Chief Spokesperson at President’s Office, Heena Waleed, has stated that Government agencies are working together to closely monitor the public's situation and provide necessary assistance.

Police and military personnel are currently working to drain water from the roads of Malé. The Police Service has requested that those in need of assistance contact them for help.