Maldives prays for rain

A special prayer for rain took place nationwide Monday afternoon after a hot and dry spell at the end of the northeastern monsoon.

Organised by the Islamic ministry, the Salatul-Istisqa prayer followed by a sermon was observed at the largest mosque on all inhabited islands across the Maldives. The congregation was at the Islamic centre in the capital Malé.

There was a light drizzle while the prayer was ongoing.

The temperature recorded at the airport island on Monday was 32 degree celsius, according to the Maldives Meteorological Services. It was 33 degrees celsius in the northern island of Hanimaadhoo, which could be experienced as 41.4 degrees celsius relative to humidity and wind.