Rasfannu Beach, located in Maafannu district of Male’ City, was temporarily closed on Sunday night, just days after it reopened following extensive renovations. The Male’ City Council announced that the closure was due to an oil spill.

In a statement on X early Monday, the council urged the public to avoid swimming in the area until the spill is cleaned up.

This recent closure comes shortly after Rasfannu reopened on Friday, following significant renovation work. A city council spokesperson told Sun that they aim to complete the cleanup and reopen the beach by Monday.

Rasfannu, one of only two beaches in the densely populated Male’ City, frequently faces closures because of water contamination caused by poor circulation and its proximity to sewerage infrastructure.

The renovations carried out between April and June included installing a new water drainage system, replacing the old embankment with modern culverts, and making other improvements to enhance water flow and reduce contamination.