881 square nautical miles searched by air for missing three persons

An extensive area has been searched by air and sea is to locate three individuals who went missing in the sinking of the 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 joint rescue efforts.

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

The missing police officer has been identified as Sergeant Ali Nafiu of Fulooniyage, N. Manadhoo and the MNDF soldier as Ibrahim Ahmed.

Meanwhile, the vessel’s captain has been identified as Mohamed Hamdhoon from Th. Madifushi.

Sergeant Naafiu, a father of two who is married to a native of Gaafu Alif Vilingili, has served in the Maldives Police Service for 14 years after joining the force in 2012.

In an update on Friday, the MNDF said an extensive area has been searched through coordinated aerial and maritime operations. Aerial searches conducted yesterday, involving a Maldivian aircraft and MNDF Air Corps unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs/drone), covered 881 square nautical miles. At the same time, maritime operations carried out by the Coast Guard Ship Imadhuddin, fast interceptor craft, sea ambulances, and police vessels covered an additional 310.10 square nautical miles.

Despite the extensive search efforts, the three individuals remain missing.

Amid a recent rise in maritime incidents, the relevant authorities have urged all seafarers to closely monitor weather conditions and ensure that all required safety equipment is available on board and in proper working condition.