Drone, flight operationalized in search for missing three persons following boat sinking

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service have intensified their joint search and rescue operations to locate three individuals reported missing in the sinking of a supply boat.

The eight-crew ‘Friend 4’ had been headed from Laamu Atoll to Huvadhoo Atoll, carrying a shipment of rock aggregate and coarse sand, when it began taking in water.

The incident was reported to the authorities at around 11:22pm on Wednesday night, prompting the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and Maldives Police Service to launch rescue efforts.

Seven of the eight crew members on the vessel were successfully rescued, while the vessel’s captain, and a soldier and a police officer involved in the rescue efforts, remain missing.

The missing police officer has been identified as Sergeant Ali Nafiu of Fulooniyage, N. Manadhoo. The identities of the other two missing individuals have not yet been officially released.

In a new update, MNDF has confirmed that the search has been intensified to include aerial surveillance, utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV/drone) and a Maldivian airline flight to scan the area from the air.

"Meanwhile, MNDF Coast Guard vessels and police vessels are continuing their search efforts at sea," stated the MNDF.

This incident follows a recent maritime accident where a landing craft traveling from Thilafushi took on water and sank near Gaafaru, which led to two Indian nationals going missing. The search for those individuals remains ongoing.

In light of the recent increase in maritime accidents, relevant authorities have urged seafarers and travelers to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant regarding weather conditions, and ensure that all necessary safety equipment is on board and functional.