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MALDIVES Latest Updates >>> Dhivehi Observer
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20:02 local time (15:02 GMT) Maldivian government playing down the disaster at the expense of people the distressed people in more than 200 islands across the nation - Mr. Sobir has given an interview to BBC News 24 drawing a picture of calm and control when the country is experiencing the worst disaster in history. He clearly stated that there is no need for evacuating tourists whilst many island resorts have already been evacuated; he also said that communication is not lost to all islands when there is no area that can be contact including the capital island. International calls from Male' is conducted via the operators. This is not time to market tourism but to save as many lives as possible. Despite early warnings and reports of the earthquake, many believe that government did not do enough to warn the people of the aftermath of such a quake. Shops in Male' should have been closed and resorts warned of the waves said a businessman from Male' who was in tears expressing grief over the situation of the people in island. I just pray to Allah that our people survive this said the resident of Male' who said he has lost almost 50% of his stock because his shop took the brunt of the first wave to hit Male'.

20:00 Unrest in Maafushi Jail : unconfirmed reports are coming that some inmates have broken out of their cells in Maafushi jail amidst the disaster. These disturbing reports say that men have broken into womens' cells whilst others are at large in the island of Maafushi, which has also been affected by the flood.

07:04 pm - International News Services want to speak with local in resorts and Male' as well as islands, please get in touch with us asap if you can provide reliable information - email us on dhivehiobserver (at) gmail.com

6:22 - CNN Latest 1700 dead in Sri Lanka and more than 1000 dead in India, Indonesia more than 450 people dead, Thailand 248 killed, 3 Confirmed dead in Maldives - no reports from islands

5:55 pm: People missing in Kaafu Guraidhoo - confirmed reports say that several children and adults are missing and unaccounted for in Guraidhoo Island. The youth who went around searching for this children are also reported missing now.

5:53 pm: Flights cancelled - Tour Operators confirm that charters flights bringing tourists for New Year due to arrive tomorrow has now been cancelled.

5:43 pm: Tourists trying to catch flights back home - Confirmed reports say that several tourists who arrived to the Maldives today are stranded in the airport and trying to get a flight back home. The visionary government of Gayyoom has failed in all areas, said the business. "We are disgusted at the level of incompetence of this administration to deal with the situation. Although a natural disaster, there are logistical things that should be in place. This will hit hard on our economy. Gayyoom has been more keen to remain in power and save his kingship than be visionary and look after his people. Sappe', you should call for his immediate resignation once again, this man is not fit to govern, we blame him a lot for not helping our guests. Where is the mighty coastguard, the mighty military, where is it? No one knows what is happening to the people in the islands, no one! this is the saddest day in Maldivian history in recent times, please put these comments on your site" said a prominent businessman via satellite phone.

5:40 pm: Upcoming parliamentary elections may be delayed sources from the government reveals

5:37 pm: Information by text through satellite phone suggest situation very bad in Dhaalu Atoll - electricity is expected to be out in most islands and death toll is set to rise - those who own large vessels are urged to travel to populated islands and help rescue people

5:25 pm: *Gulhi island, South Male' Atoll: 1 year old child swept into the sea by giant wave and is missing feared drowned*
5:17 pm: *Hathifushi Sahkir, candidate for Kaafu Atoll in elections, who had been missing since this morning, found alive and well*

5:13 pm: Eboodhoo and Summer Island affected, extent of damage not known*
5:03 pm: *Sun Travel asking government to open a school for their guests in Male'* *Communications lost with Meemu Atoll* *Fulidhoo island, Vaavu Atoll: 3 houses collapsed, no reported casualties* *TVM says 5 houses collapsed in Rakeedhoo island, Vaavu Atoll*
5:02 pm: *Vilu Reef Resort, run by Sun Travels, evacuates its 190 guests*
5:01 pm: *Funadhoo, Laamu Atoll: one baby dead reported*
5:00 pm: *Mathimaradhoo critical - death toll includes children and rising, no communication
4:51 pm: ***10 REPORTED DEAD IN DHAAL ATOLL***
4:50 pm: *280 European guests in Oluveli Resort have reached airport safely*
4:30 pm: *Gayoom holds photo call in Male' street*
4:12 pm: *"No structure left standing" in Gemendhoo Island, Dhaal Atoll*
4:06 pm: *Pakistani warship heading to Maldives to help with rescue efforts*
3:54 pm: *Maldives Airport Authority says it will try and have airport ready for take-offs by 6pm local time*

15:57 Maldives - Several resort divers are unaccounted for, according to sources. Tourists are particularly interested in swimming and sunbathing around the time of the morning when the tsunamis struck. They should have had a warning, say the informants.
Maldives Airport, the only way out of Maldives, is now closed, the whole nation is stranded. The fate of people in the remote islands is completely unknown.

15:57 Maldives - Gayyoom's government is totally unprepared with any rescue plans for a disaster of this scale. Reports from resorts confirm that tourists are very upset and some are injured. Others are still in shock because their dream holiday is ruined and they have come to a country that has no rescue and emergency service but only a military guard for its dictator.
The world knew about this earthquake; DO reported the earthquake in Male' at 6:36 am this morning. It was reported earlier by Reuters that there was an earthquake in Indonesia, yet Gayyoom claims he did not know.
The Maldivian death toll will rise. Government spokesman Dr. Shaheed is lying about this news as well. We have confirmed deaths, he does not. Reports are concentrating on Male' and other islands. This is an attempt to get foreign aid. No details have been given to the BBC about the situation of the thousands of holiday makers and the fate of these resorts.
Reports on DO prompted Gayyoom to make a formal appearance on TV, confirms a NSS aide.

15:54 World News - Biggest earthquake in the world in 40 years. Electricity water and health situation in Male' is critical. Worries over freshwater and sanitation. Toilets cannot be used. Power is cut and people are being warned not to use electricity because of the dangers posed by flooding.
Food kept in freezers is thawing and will rot in the tropical heat. People are being warned not to go down to the beach

15:47 BBC - Tourist safari vessels are used in rescue. A small island next to V. Fulidhoo is destroyed, a Safari belonging to Capital Travel group, MV Faiymini rescued more than 14 people as it was sailing in the area.

15:45 BBC - Reports that Tour Operators will attempt to evacuate their clients from destinations including the Maldives.

15:33 BBC - India - 1000 dead, 100's of fisherman missing, 1500 death toll in Sri Lanka, official says.



MINIVAN NEWS UPDATES
3:10 pm: Tourists angry at no communication with government or evacuation plans, reports from resorts state.
3:08 pm: Tourists trying to flee Maldives on their own.
3:07 pm: Kurumba Village Dive School under four feet of water.
3:04 pm: Maldives: 5 dead; Sri Lanka: 1,000 dead; India: 1,000 dead; Thailand: 55 dead; Indonesia: 150 dead; Malaysia: 7 dead.
2:59 pm: Child reported dead in Guraidhoo Island, South Male' Atoll, three more reported missing. The children were reportedly playing on a costal road when the wave hit. Several more people thought to be injured. Population is taking refuge in the health centre.
2:49 pm: 500 Dead in Sri Lanka, 500 dead in India. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has declared a national disaster, and the military has been deployed to help rescue efforts.
2:39 pm: One tourist reported dead in Velaavaru Resort, Dhaal atoll.
2:21 pm: 10 water bungalows seen drifting from Kani Resort, South Male' atoll.
2:18 pm: Fears of prisoners' safety reported to Minivan News after flooding reported in Dhoonidhoo and Maafushi Jails.
2:10 pm: At least 20 dead in Thailand - BBC.
2:01 pm: Water subsiding in Male'.
1:59 pm: Republican Square cordoned off in Male'.
1:54 pm: Radio 7676.0 SSB is unclear, please go to 7715.0 SSB instead.
1:46 pm: Vaavu Atoll - Fulidhoo Island, all islanders taking shelter in local school, all possessions destroyed 'not even a pillow left usable'.
1:45 pm: Death toll rises to 150 in India - BBC.
1:33 pm: Airport runway being cleared to allow international flights to leave Maldives but internal flights will not operate until tomorrow.
1:31 pm: Islanders told to listen to 7676.0 SSB Radio where communications down.
1:27 pm: Earthquake 8.9 on Richer Scale says US Geological Dept. - biggest in 40 years.
1:24 pm: NO GOVERNMENT ADVICE TO MALDIVIANS AS YET - GAYOOM ASKS PEOPLE TO 'REMAIN CALM'.
1:20 pm: Vaavu Atoll: Kyodhoo Island badly hit - people on rooftops, Ali Matha flooded.
1:15 pm: 2 DEAD, 6 MISSING IN THARI VILLAGE RESORT. 2nd wave smashes into Bentota, west Sri Lanka.
1:12 pm: 400 dead in Sri Lanka's east coast, 100 dead in India - BBC.
1:10 pm: No reports of second wave as yet.
1:05pm: North of Maldives badly hit - Maldives Industrial Fisheries Group have started a 'limited evacuation' of outer islands.
1pm Male' time: Hulu Male' is being evacuated - residents being sent to the captial.
Fears that Male' ground reef may have been cracked by waves.


Thousands of people have died along the shores of the eastern Indian Ocean after a series of severe earthquakes near Sumatra and the Andaman islands caused tsunamis in many coastal areas.
The Maldives government spokesman Ahmed Shaheed has told the BBC World Service that deaths of islanders and tourists have occurred due to the tsunamis that hit the country without warning this morning. He did not give any details.
DO is also receiving unconfirmed reports of deaths of Maldive islanders and tourists.
Basic food, stored by STO at its warehouse in the southwest of Male', has been ruined by flooding to a depth of two feet. Thousands of bags of rice, flour and sugar have been ruined by seawater.
Another large tsunami has hit Bentota in Sri Lanka and is expected to reach Maldives within an hour. Unconfirmed reports claim Rakeedhoo island on Vaavu atoll has suffered serious damage from tsunamis and two or three houses have been destroyed. The reports claim that MIFCO vessels are evacuating islanders.
In the capital, the north eastern Male' harbour area nearly drained out before the waves arrived, and passenger dhoanis avoided damage by riding out the waves in the lagoon as the tsunamis hit. The Male' seawall has been damaged on the northeastern and northern sides.
Gayyoom is appearing on TV Maldives and appealing for calm as tsunami waves sweep the country after at least ten earthquakes in the eastern Indian Ocean near Sumatra and the Andaman islands. The Maldives president, who disappeared from view when the waves first struck Male' this morning, is being shown wading through water as he visits flood-affected areas.
Many eastern Indian Ocean littoral regions have been affected by tsunamis, and the death toll is at least 200 people and expected to rise. In Maldives, a tourist is reported to have died after suffering a heart attack as the waves hit his resort.

In Minicoy island, just north of Maldives, a weak wave hit Minicoy island 100 km North of Thuraakunu Island. No damage is reported.
In Sri Lanka, the BBC has an eyewitness account from its reporter Roland Buerk who was swept from his hotel room by a tsunami this morning.

11:45 Travel Warning Announced - Local media is announcing travel warnings. Public is upset because they had no indication of any of this happening. Local MET office issued no warnings of flood which began three hours after the earthquake. Public confidence in the government is at an all time low, especially with the administration's inability to warn us and then provide adequate rescue plans and services. Guests and people are stuck and there is no way to get them treatment or any service.

11:39 MET Office - Two more severe waves are to hit Male' at 12:00 and 14:00 hrs, which are expected to be worse than the ones so far. Locals are requested to seek refuge and not to walk around the island.

11:27 Dhiraagu News - Telecommunication out in Faafu, Alif, Noonu and Vaavu atolls.

11:02 Male Local Market - The traditional local market has been hit hard today. Their crops were swept away with the waves.

10:58 Male - Waves are still coming and the situation is deteriorating. Emergency services are severely crippled, and cannot deal with it. Fire services and military and police are all mixed up in Maldives. Much of the police are utilised for the security of Gayyoom. Coast guard is on standby and on alert for evacuation should there be an emergency for Gayyoom, bless him! We can all die but he must remain alive.

10:57 Baros Island Resort - Reports are coming that the whole island is under water. Serious logistical problems all over the country mostly in resorts. Sun Island also has been hit hard.

10:52 Male - Voice of Maldives is back on air.

10:51 Paradise Island Resort - The water bungalow jetty has taken a severe shock from the waves and more than 20 people have been injured mainly from broken glasses. Arrangements are bring made to take them to Male' for treatment. Several low lying resorts are effected by the flood.

10:50 Fuah Mulaku Reports of flooding in Fuah Mulaku as well - communication is disrupted and cannot obtain more information at this time.

10:48 Male - Gayyoom has reportedly boarded his multimillion dollar yacht Arumaazu after abandoning Male'.

10:30 Male' - 9 people missing from a dredging site in HulhuMale' - unconfirmed.

10:10 Male - Voice of Maldives is reportedly off the air and some disruption in telecommunication reported. FM Radio is on air.

10:00 Male' - Gayyoom flees to Aarah concerned over his security - heavy police presence near the palace.

09:55 Male' - Hulhumale' is also flooded. Water has gone into houses and flat buildings. Almost all of Male' is flooded. Water is subsiding but another wave is on the way according to reports.

09:34 Male' - Police presence in the area is heavy. There are around 8 aircrafts on the runway in Hulhule Airport and situation is at the moment quite serious. Experts say that the airport might be closed for some time until water subsides. Chaandhanee Magu is also flooded.



Male' - 09:25 am - Reports are coming from Male' that tidal waves are causing heavy flooding in the island. It is reported that the Marine Drive, now known as Boduthakurufaanu Magu, is now almost 2 feet deep. More news will be updates as we get them. This could very well be related to the earthquakes in the Indian Ocean region. Male' although protected by seawall is vulnerable to rises in sea level as the island is only just a meter above. Reporters say that it is quite serious. Emergency services are mobilised.



Breaking News

Earthquake in Maldives; confirmed from Male' and felt in other islands too

Confirmed reports are coming that a small earthquake has hit Male' at around 6:32 am. It lasted for around 15 seconds. DO reporters are now investigating for damages and further reports. We will update as soon as we receive information from Male'.

Reports are also coming that people have felt the earthquake in other parts of the country such as Meemu Atoll.

Earthquakes are not uncommon to the Indian Ocean region where Maldives is. A strong earthquake shook Maldives on July 16th, 2003 as reported in Associated Press.