Red Alert: Hazardous Air Quality Grips Northern and Central Maldives

The Maldives National Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert warning of hazardous air quality across northern and central atolls, with conditions expected to persist for the next five days. According to the Centre, haze has reduced visibility to nearly 2 kilometers in northern atolls and pushed the Air Quality Index (AQI) to between 158 and 165 in the region, a level categorized as ‘red alert’. This poses a serious risk to public health, especially for people with respiratory conditions. In central parts of the country, the AQI stands at 126, indicating unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups. The haze has also affected the Greater Malé region, reducing visibility of Hulhumalé from buildings in Malé. The meteorological authority has urged the public to take precautions when going outdoors.