No sign of missing men as authorities expand aerial search to 5,200 NM²

Combined photos of (from R-L) Sergeant Ali Nafiu, MNDF soldier Ibrahim Ahmed and vessel captain Mohamed Hamdhoon who went missing in the supply boat sinking. (Photo/Social Media)

Authorities have yet to find any sign of the three men, including two rescue officers, who went missing on Thursday, after a supply vessel sank in the Huvadhoo Sea.

The eight-crew ‘Friend 4’ had set off from K. Thilafushi on August 2, carrying construction material such as rock aggregate to islands. The boat sent out a distress call to the police at around 10:40 pm on Thursday, after it began taking in water as it travelled through the Huvadhoo Sea after setting off from Th. Madifushi.

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

They were identified as:

Mohamed Hamdhoon, 35, boat captain
Sergeant Ali Nafiu, 33, police officer
Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Ahmed, 39, MNDF

The MNDF stated on Friday night that they have searched 5,212 square nautical miles via air and 1,070 square nautical miles via sea in the operation.

“The search efforts have yet to yield any trace of the missing persons,” said the MNDF.

"ފްރެންޑް 4" ސަޕްލައި ދޯނި އަޑިއަށްދިޔަ ހާދިސާގައި ގެއްލުނު 3 މީހުން ހޯދުމުގެ އޮޕަރޭޝަނުގައި، ވައިގެ މަގުން 5212 އަކަ ނޯޓިކަލް މޭލު، ކަނޑުމަގުން 1070.10 އަކަ ނޯޓިކަލް މޭލުގެ ސަރަހައްދެއް ވަނީ ބެލިފަ. މިހާތަނަށް ކުރެވުނު މަސައްކަތުން ގެއްލުނު މީހުން އަދި ފެނިފައެއް ނުވޭ.
— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) August 7, 2026