Haa Dhaalu Atoll islands feel effects of earthquake

The Maldives Meteorological Service (Met) has issued a statement saying that several islands in Haa Dhaalu atoll has felt the effect of a minor earthquake.

The Met said that upon receiving reports of the ground shaking, they investigated further and found that seismogram data from H.Dh.Hanimaadhoo recorded a “localised tremor at approximately 08:27 pm”.

The quake was felt but it is not expected to pose a threat to Maldives, according to the Met office.

A 4.5-magnitude quake struck the Arabian Sea, 216 kilometres northwest of Maldives, at 8:26 pm local time, Volcano Discovery said. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres and was felt by many people near the quake zone. The website also said that the feeling of an earthquake coming from the lower reaches will be greater than that of a very strong earthquake.

Coincidentally, the weather has been very bad in Maldives at this time. Various parts of the country are experiencing heavy rains and rough seas.