Addu: Extreme heat wave, fish dying in Hithadhoo Mangrove

Addu city has been experiencing extreme heat waves over the past two weeks, and fish have begun to die in some mangroves of Hithadhoo.

Photos circulated on social media by a group of people from Hithadhoo show that some fish in the "Aari" mangrove around Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) on the island have died and floated up to the surface. This area is connected with "Fehela" mangrove where larger fish thrive.

Hithadhoo Moolekendi council member Ahmed Saeed has said that so far, 18 fish have died in the mangrove. He has also said that the east side of the mangrove is very shallow and that bigger fish populate the area.

Fish are believed to be dying of extreme heat, he said.

"We are observing extreme heat for two weeks. There is winds at all. It's been a long time since it has rained"

He said that in addition to the fish dying in the heat, the asphalts of areas where trees are lesser has started to melt.

Saeed said that tire tracks from large vehicles can be clearly seen on the roads.

An official from the Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) have told "Mihaaru" that the Maldives experiences the hottest temperatures in March and April.

The official said that the temperature in Addu city was 31 degrees Celsius yesterday. "But this is not an unusual record," he said.

The Maldives experienced the hottest temperature on September 12, 1991. Laamu atoll Kadhdhoo warmed to 36 degrees Celsius on the same day.