Police launch investigation into blackout in Maldivian capital at President's orders

The police have launched a special investigation into a huge power outage affecting the greater Male’ area, including Male’ City and Hulhumale’.

Power went out in the greater Male’ area at around 12:35 pm Sunday.

In a post on X, the police announced they have launched a special investigation into the cause of the blackout.

ގްރޭޓަރ މާލެ ސަރަހައްދުން ކަރަންޓް ކެނޑިފައިވާ މައްސަލައާ ގުޅިގެން ދިވެހި ފުލުހުންގެ ޚިދުމަތުން ވަނީ އެކަން ހިނގި ގޮތް ބެލުމަށް ހާއްސަ ތަހުގީގެއް ފަށައިފައެވެ.

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) June 1, 2025

The announcement comes shortly after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage, said that he has instructed relevant authorities to investigate the blackout as a serious issue.

“The government will do everything necessary to ascertain uninterrupted electricity services and ensure this does not repeat,” he added.

މުޅި މާލެ، ހުޅުމާލެ އަދި ހުޅުލެ ހިމެނޭހެން ކަރަންޓު ގޮސްފައިވާ މައްސަލަ ސީރިއަސް މައްސަލައެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ބެލުމަށް ކަމާބެހޭ ފަރާތްތަކުގައި ދަންނަވައިފިން. އަދި މިފަދަ ކަމެއް ތަކުރާރު ނުވާނޭހެން ކަރަންޓުގެ ޚިދުމަތުގެ ކަންކަން އިންތިޒާމް ކުރަން ކުރަންޖެހޭ ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ސަރުކާރުން…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) June 1, 2025

A spokesperson from State Electric Company (STELCO) attributed the power outage to a “technical issue”, but did not elaborate.

“We are working to identify the issue and restore power,” said the spokesperson.

Sun has been informed that the outage took place because the generators in Male’ City got overloaded due to an issue at the Hulhumale’ powerhouse.

However, this has not been confirmed by STELCO.

STELCO has said that power has been restored to critical infrastructure such as the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and the Dharumavantha Hospital.

However, it is unclear when power will be restored to other areas in the capital.