Maldives is an archipelago of 26 low-lying coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Indian subcontinent. The country consists of just under 1,192 small tropical islands, out of which about 358 are used for economic activities and human settlement. One of the lowest countries in the world, it is greatly threatened by sea-level rises, coastal storm surges, and associated flooding. In recent years, many inhabited islands in the Maldives have experienced severe weather events, such as strong winds, flooding, rough seas, and storm surges, which have resulted in severe beach erosion hazards and coastal infrastructure damage.