Hulhumalé Cemetery Burials Temporarily Suspended Due to Water Accumulation

The Malé City Council has announced the temporary suspension of burials at the Hulhumalé cemetery, effective from today, due to water accumulation in graves. According to the council, water levels of 8 to 9 inches have been observed in dug graves, making burial procedures difficult. As a result, all burials will be redirected to the Aasahara (old cemetery) in Malé. This marks the third time in three years that burials have been halted at Hulhumalé cemetery due to heavy rainfall and a rising water table. Previous suspensions occurred in 2024 and January 2025, when burials were also moved to Malé. The council had previously decided to raise the ground level and install a drainage system at the cemetery to address the recurring issue, but details of the progress on that work remain unclear.