Kolhufushi (Meemu Atoll)
# Kolhufushi (Meemu Atoll)

Kolhufushi (Dhivehi: ކޮޅުފުށި) is one of the inhabited islands of Meemu Atoll.

## History

### 2004 tsunami and aftermath

The island was greatly affected by the 2004 tsunami, although coral reefs took some of the impact. The island's chief, Mr. Sigee, described the water as reaching his chin. Two weeks after the disaster, the island's population was found to have lost at least sixteen people, and the island's mango and banana trees had been poisoned by the saltwater. Some homes and a century-old mosque had also been destroyed. Most of the other houses were unsuitable for habitation, leaving only a handful of functional homes.

By mid-January 2005, 8% of the 13,000-strong displaced Maldivian population was housed in temporary shelters on Kolhufushi. The construction of 55 replacement houses was started in October 2008, and a further 168 houses were started in 2010.

Tsunami drills were introduced on the island in 2018. A tsunami warning in 2016 had uncovered a lack of preparedness, for dealing with safe evacuation.

## Geography

The island is 154.57 km (96 mi; 83 nmi) south of the country's capital, Malé. The land area of the island is 61.1 ha (151 acres) in 2018. The island was described as having an area of 75.6 ha (187 acres) in 2007.

## Utilities

Electrification on Kolhufushi was undertaken by MTCC in 2013. A submarine cable network was laid to the island, by Ooredoo Maldives, in 2017.

## Health care

Kolhufushi has a pharmacy.

## Sport

The island has a football team. The team won every one of their group games at the 2017 Haf Islanders Cup, but lost to Male' in the semi-final.

## Transport

The construction of Kolhufushi's harbour was contracted in January 2016, and was completed the following year. The harbour was inaugurated in 2018.

