Still no sign of three men lost at sea as search enters day five

Five days after a supply boat sank while transporting some construction material, the three people who went missing in the incident have still not been found, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said Monday.

The Friend 4 supply boat was travelling from Th. Madifushi to Huvadhoo Atoll when it began taking in water on Wednesday night. The distress call was made at 22:37, and both MNDF and police responded to the emergency. However, due to rough seas, the vessel sank while rescue efforts were underway.

There were eight people on board at the time. Seven were rescued, while the boat captain, a police officer, and an MNDF soldier involved in the rescue operation went missing.

They were identified as:

• Mohamed Hamdhoon, 35, boat captain  

• Sergeant Ali Nafiu, 33, police officer  

• Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Ahmed, 39, MNDF  

އަދާހަމަ:
ފްރެންޑް 4 ސަޕްލައި ދޯނި އަޑިއަށްދިޔަ ހާދިސާގައި ގެއްލުނު 3 މީހުން ހޯދުމުގެ އޮޕަރޭޝަނުގައި، ވައިގެ މަގުން 7512 އަކަ ނޯޓިކަލް މޭލު، ކަނޑުމަގުން 1970.10 އަކަ ނޯޓިކަލް މޭލުގެ ސަރަހައްދެއް ވަނީ ބެލިފަ. މިހާތަނަށް ކުރެވުނު މަސައްކަތުން ގެއްލުނު މީހުން އަދި ފެނިފައެއް ނުވޭ. pic.twitter.com/7t0S95NBNa

— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) August 10, 2026

MNDF said drones, helicopters, Coast Guard vessels and other assets are being used in the search operation. So far, 7,512 square nautical miles have been searched by air and 1,970.10 square nautical miles by sea.

Despite the extensive search, the three men have not been located.

The Foreign Ministry said Sunday that it is seeking assistance from countries near the Maldives to help find the missing men. The ministry assured that the search is continuing without interruption, using all available resources.

Authorities have advised the public to travel with caution during the rough days of the westerly monsoon.