In a harrowing incident, a speedboat carrying approximately 60 female students from the National Service Initial Training course began taking on water and eventually sank while traveling from Maafilaafushi to Malé. The incident occurred at night, forcing all personnel on board to evacuate into the open sea. Despite the initial fear of jumping into the dark waters, the trainees utilized the courage and practical experience gained from their national service training to support one another during the crisis.
Through a coordinated rescue effort by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Marine Police, everyone was safely rescued and brought to Malé by approximately 7:30 PM last night. The students highlighted that the foundational training they received—including first aid, self-defense, and various military drills—played a crucial role in their ability to manage the situation calmly and survive the ordeal. These trainees had just recently completed their program on the 17th of this month.
