Addu’s historical port suffers major damage

Southern Addu City’s Gan port has suffered major damage on Saturday.

A large section of the harbor fell away under the weight of a tractor carrying gravel for construction. According to Addu Online, the tractor was carrying nearly 70 tonnes of rock.

The tractor sank into the large hole. Its driver suffered minor injuries.

The gravel was being transported to the Gan Airport for runway renovation.

Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe) said more than MVR1million would be required to fix the damage. The port is 50 years old and was constructed by the British when the Maldives was a British protectorate.

“We had warned the government that the port is worn out and asked them to use the airport for the transportation of construction material. But they chose the cheaper way,” he said.

This is the worst damage the port has suffered, Sodiq said.

“In Singapore and other neighboring countries, places like these are used as historical sites and are cared for, but in Maldives, it’s the opposite. Tourism is not only about sandy beaches, but also about important historical sites,” he added.

An official with MT Højgaard, the company renovating the airport runway, told AdduOnline that the hole will be fixed once the gravel is unloaded.