Disasters in Maldives

The Maldives has a formal national disaster management system, but its practical coverage differs between islands. The Disaster Management Act 28/2015 assigns the state responsibilities for protecting people, health, property and the natural and built environment through risk reduction, preparedness, relief, response and recovery. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), established as the central coordinating authority on 30 December 2018, identifies risks, coordinates warnings and relief, supports temporary accommodation and basic necessities, and works with City, Atoll and Island Councils. Residents and institutions also share responsibility for reducing risk and preparing for emergencies. The main hazards are heavy rain and inland flooding, cyclones, strong winds, storm surges, swell or tidal waves known locally as Udha, tsunamis, earthquakes, drought and water shortages, fires, thunder and lightning, and maritime or aviation incidents. Udha affects almost all islands in many years and becomes more severe when spring tides combine with strong winds. Tsunami exposure is especially relevant to eastern atolls because of the Sumatra subduction zone. The Makran, Sumatra and Carlsberg Ridge areas are recognized Indian Ocean tsunami sources, and the southern islands also face earthquake exposure associated with the Carlsberg Ridge. Fire risk is particularly significant in urban areas, while drought and water shortages can occur during Iruvai. Risk is not uniform across the country. Southern and central atolls receive more rain and can experience greater damage from heavy rainfall. Northern atolls have higher exposure to some cyclones, strong winds and storm surges. More than 60% of islands have been assessed as having severe shoreline erosion. The island geography also makes transport, communication, evacuation and the delivery of supplies more difficult, especially when ports, airports or inter-island connections are disrupted. The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) issues official weather warnings and operates the National Tsunami Warning Centre (NTWC). MMS uses four alert levels: White for information, Yellow for an advisory, Orange for a warning and Red for a warning indicating extreme impact. It publishes alerts through meteorology.gov.mv/active_alerts, its website, the Moosun app, @MetMaldives, the hotline 3317171 and television channels including TVM, VTV and Dhivehi Channel. Alert thresholds include rainfall, wind, sea conditions, squalls, swell or tidal waves, tropical cyclones and expected tsunami effects. For example, heavy-rain thresholds range from 50 millimetres in one hour or 80 millimetres in six hours at White level to 180 millimetres in six hours at Red level. Wind and sea criteria rise from roughly 19–24 mph at White level to above 40–42 mph at Red level, while cyclone alerts reflect an expected passage over the Maldives or an atoll within 24, 12 or 6 hours. These criteria describe MMS alerts and do not guarantee safety at a particular location. An Island Disaster Management Plan (IDMP) assesses hazards, vulnerabilities and local capacity, maps exposed areas, assigns responsibilities, establishes standard operating procedures and sets a two-year community action plan. Community validation includes young people, children and women. A Community Disaster Management Committee and a Community Emergency Operations Center (EOC) support local coordination. A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) consists of trained volunteer first responders managed locally by the Council or committee, with training involving the Maldivian Red Crescent, Maldives National Defence Force and Police. Schools, health posts, public bodies and community institutions are expected to integrate emergency plans and procedures into their work. NDMA had plans for 72 islands in August 2026, but national coverage was not complete. Local IDMPs should identify evacuation paths and safe shelters. People should know the nearest emergency shelter to their home and school, follow island or council instructions, take part in drills and monitor official warnings. No single nationwide shelter list or guaranteed admission standard has been established in the available evidence. Access may depend on the island, transport, sea conditions and the instructions of the responsible authorities. People should not independently travel to another atoll during an emergency unless authorities direct them to do so. During an emergency, the local EOC and CERT support initial action while the NDMA coordinates with the Maldives National Defence Force, Fire and Rescue Service, Police, Coast Guard, National Ambulance Service, Maldivian Red Crescent and the health sector. The NDMA assesses immediate needs and relief. If a home becomes uninhabitable, it can coordinate temporary shelter and basic necessities. For immediate danger, call Police at 119, Fire and Rescue at 118, National Ambulance at 100, Coast Guard at 191 or NDMA at 115. The Maldivian Red Crescent can be reached at 1425. Contacting the local Council or CERT can also provide island-specific assistance. Humanitarian assistance, relief and recovery aid follow NDMA regulations and depend on the incident, documented damage, household circumstances and available resources. The Damage and Loss Assessment System (DALA) records the incident, affected people and households, damage, loss and disbursement. NDMA damage assessment is therefore central to decisions about assistance. Possible relief may include housing support, food, clothing and emergency health assistance, but there is no single guaranteed nationwide payment for every disaster. Recovery depends on the extent of damage to homes and infrastructure, available resources and access to the affected island. The NDMA coordinates relief and recovery, while the Island Disaster Management Plan and national emergency arrangements guide local work. The 2024–2030 Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and the 2024–2029 NDMA Strategic Plan identify resilient infrastructure, regional emergency operations centers and warehouses, temporary shelters, a National Emergency Operations Center and a National Disaster Response Force as development goals. These planned capacities should not be treated as evidence that every facility or service is already available on every island. A Tsunami Ready Board under NDMA has operated with seven members since 14 December 2025, while island-level implementation remains uneven and continues to develop.