Rasfannu beach closed down due to oil spill, days after reopening

Rasfannu, the public beach located in Maafannu district of Male’ City, was temporarily closed down on Sunday night, mere days after it reopened after major renovations.

The Male’ City Council states that it closed the beach due to an oil spill.

“We urge the public to refrain from swimming in the area until we clean it up,” stated the city council in a post on X on early Monday.

ރަސްފަންނާއި ދިމާ ކަނޑުން ފަޅުތެރެއަށް ތެޔޮ ވަދެފައިވާތީ ރަސްފަންނުގެ މޫދަށް އެރޭ ސަރަހައްދު މިހާރުވަނީ ވަގުތީގޮތުން ބަންދުކުރެވިފައި، މި ސަރަހައްދު ސާފުކޮށް ނިމެންދެން މޫދަށް ނޭރުމަށް އިލްތިމާސްކުރަން pic.twitter.com/6ZXJrg83Pg

— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) June 14, 2026

The latest closure of Rasfannu comes just days after it reopened on Friday following major renovations.

A spokesperson from the city council told Sun that they expect to clean up the oil spill and reopen the beach sometime Monday.

Rasfannu, one of the only two beaches in the populous Male’ City, is prone to frequent closures due to water contamination due to poor circulation and close proximity to sewerage infrastructure.

The major renovations between April and June saw authorities install a new water drainage system, replace the previous embankment with modern culverts, and implement other changes to promote better water flow and prevent contamination.