On Wednesday evening, an earthquake occurred 933 km south of Addu, as reported by the Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office).

The earthquake took place in the Chagos area of the central Indian Ocean, a region recognized for its regular seismic events along mid-ocean ridges. The quake registered a magnitude of 5.4 and was documented at 06:01 pm. Such quakes usually happen near deep ocean ridges and are not linked to faults that cause tsunamis.

The Met Office stated that the earthquake does not threaten the Maldives, emphasizing that its location and depth make it improbable to affect the nation.

On Sunday, the Met Office released a statement responding to viral social media claims that an earthquake was imminent in the Maldives. The agency emphasized that although scientists can pinpoint areas prone to earthquakes over extended periods, there is no scientific approach to foresee earthquakes beforehand.

The agency stated it continuously tracks worldwide seismic data and will promptly release information if an earthquake happens close to the Maldives.

It is important to mention that the Met Office regularly issues these updates whenever earthquakes happen in the Indian Ocean area. These advisories usually provide an evaluation of whether the Maldives will be impacted.