One of the individuals reported missing after a cargo boat capsized has been found deceased.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed that the recovered body is that of a Maldivian national. According to the MNDF, the body has been formally handed over to the Maldives Police Service for further procedures.
At the time of the incident, there were four individuals on board the vessel. Two of them were promptly rescued by a passing dhoni. The search efforts initially focused on locating the remaining two individuals: a Maldivian and a Bangladeshi national. While the Maldivian has been found deceased, the search for the foreign national is still ongoing.
MNDF stated that the incident involved a cargo vessel named “Balma-6,” which capsized today at approximately 07:27 AM.
The vessel overturned near Taj Exotica Resort. Teams from the MNDF Male’ Area Command Coast Guard Second Squadron, along with Coast Guard divers, are currently active at the scene conducting search and recovery operations.
The vessel was en route from Hulhumale’ to Donmagaa when the accident occurred. The MNDF has issued an advisory for seafarers to exercise caution, as the vessel and some of its cargo are drifting in the area. The Coast Guard estimates that the debris is drifting in a westerly direction.
