A strong wind blew down a 500 year-old Banyan tree in Kuribi of Haadhaalu Atoll, which was believed to be among the ancient relics remaining on the island.
Island Councilor Abdul Wahid told Minivan News that the tree fell down on Friday afternoon at around 3:00pm due to a strong wind that came with the rain clouds.
”The wind was blowing faster than 70 km/h,” said Wahid. ”Many coconut palm trees and other trees in the area fell down,”
Wahid said the tree was 125 feet long and was used as a landmark for travelers, as it was visible on the horizon before even the island appeared.
”It would have a diameter of 15 feet and a spread of 200 feet,” Wahid said.
He said that nobody was injured during the incident.
”It fell and hit the outer wall of Hukuru Miskiy [Friday mosque] and damaged the wall,” he said. ”Some other trees in the area were also pulled down.”
He said that the ancient Banyan tree would be put up for auction tomorrow.
An official at the Department of Meteorology (MET) said that its bureau on Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll has recorded that Hanimaadhoo experienced strong winds blowing at almost 90 km/h on Friday afternoon.
She said that the heavy rain and strong winds was due to the southwest monsoon, and added that no tornadoes had been recorded recently.
Floods
A solid two days of rain in Nolhivaram, also in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, has caused shin-high flooding.
Island Councilor Hussein Areef said the deluge lasted from Friday morning to 10pm last night, and had caused the water level to rise to to 1.5 feet in some areas.
Eight houses on the island had been flooded, he said, and some trees had died.
Areef said that schools were closed today due to the flood.
”Many trees on island also fell due to the rain and strong wind,” Areef said. ”We are trying to drain the water and we hope we can reopen the schools by tomorrow.”
”Now it is not raining, but the sky is overcasts and by 6:00pm it would start showering again,” he added.
(0)Dislikes
(0)Related Posts
Ayyube murder suspect denies charges
Strong wind and heavy rain forecast over the next 24 hours
Police looking for father who took 5-year-old daughter from her mother
PPM candidate Mariyam Habeeb wins Nolhivaram Island Council by-election
41 year old man arrested for molesting 12 year old
Indian teachers request transfer, quit posts after Kumundhoo school attack
I hate it when old trees are no more 🙁
i think those banyan trees are older than 500 yrs.
This sad incident took place because there was no adequate protection accorded to that 500 year old tree. The Katheeb and them have given away land, left, right and center within close proximity of the tree. And the new land lords have chopped up the surrounding roots of the tree which were instrumental in consolidating the tree's hold to the ground. The entire skyline of this small beautiful island has been disfigured because of this tragic incident. Some years back, there was a monolithic rock (Bodugaa) sitting on the peripheral reef of the island as well. That is also now gone because some of the more influential characters on the island used this huge monolith, a characteristic feature of this beautiful island, for building their houses! The island has another rare tree called the "Maruvakaru gas" which also warrants preservation measures from the concerned authorities, lest the tree is chopped down for fire wood!