Heavy rain has caused flooding in capital city Male’ on Wednesday.

The heavy rain that began on Wednesday morning did not cease until later in the evening.

This has caused some roads to flood up to the knees, preventing people from traveling by foot. RaajjeMV understands that some houses and stores have also been flooded.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, an official at the meteorological service said that at least 140 millimeters of rain had poured onto Male’ City alone on Wednesday and that a yellow alert has been issued from Alifu to Male' atolls.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has been active in de-flooding efforts by placing sandbags and installing pumps at 14 points in the capital city while police officers pick up fallen parked motorcycles.

Flooding in Male’ has been an ongoing problem and the prior government had overseen anti-flooding projects, which includes installing a storm drain system in Ameenee Magu.

When flooding occurred earlier this year, then-housing minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu claimed that the anti-flooding system had been destroyed by unknown vandals.

At a press conference on Wednesday evening, defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi said that the MNDF has helped residents of two affected houses move out.

The national disaster management center has urged those needing emergency assistance to call 115.