Kolhufushi (Meemu Atoll)

Kolhufushi or (,  (Dhivehi:  ކޮޅުފުށި) is an inhabited island off the southwest coast of Meemu Atoll Or Mulaku Atoll. It is the third most populous island in Meemu Atoll

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.

The island was supposedly “split in half” after the Tsunami, the South half is the one thats currently inhabited.

Kolhufushi also has a Mosque near its south coast where Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam and his team’s boat Kalhuohfumi was dismantled and turned into the Mosque, “Masjid-Ul-Ghaazee” Named after the national hero.

Geography
The island is 154.57 km south of the country's capital, Malé. The land area of the island is 61.1 ha in 2018. The island was described as having an area of 75.6 ha 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 and a health center. For further and more complicated illnesses, most patients resort to the capital, Malé

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.

Many famous Fustal and Football players from Kolhufushi play for numerous Malé and Hulhumalé teams.

Eid Festivals such as Bodumas, Bodu beru and many others are also widespread amongst the community in Kolhufushi.

A number of Football Teams also exist in kolhufushi alongside a Football Tournament.

A Fishing Competition also takes place in the island.

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

Common Speedboat trips arrive from other atolls to Kolufushi, including Malé; Which takes 2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes on Speedboat.

As of now, Kolhufushi does not have a road and the Nearest airport is the Dhaalu Airport. There are currently no asphalt roads but the most common form of Land Transport is by Motorbike, Cars are very uncommon and are only used by the government.