Meteorological service has issued a white alert for the central Maldives region.

The alert is valid through 5:30pm to 11:30pm on Saturday.

Met Office said heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the region between Meemu and Laamu atoll, with wind gusts of 40 mph.

Last week, heavy rain had caused flooding in some islands, damaging houses.

The forecast from Saturday night to Sunday night show scattered showers with a few thunderstorms in the central and southern atolls, while few showers also expected in north.

Met Office said surface winds will vary between west to north-west in southern atolls and north to north-east in northern most atolls at a speed of 5 to 13 miles per hour, and north to east at 13 to 23 miles per hour elsewhere. Winds may gust 35 miles per hour during showers.

Seas would be slight in southern and northern most atolls and rough over the rest, they said.