Capsizing of supply vessel: Vast area searched for missing persons, but they remain unaccounted for
7 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ހުކުރު 10:15Despite extensive air and sea search operations covering a vast area, authorities have yet to locate a soldier, a police officer, and the vessel's captain who went missing after the boat "Friend 4" capsized. The Maldives National Defence Force and Police are utilizing drones and Coast Guard vessels in the ongoing joint operation, which follows the successful rescue of seven other individuals from the eight people originally on board.
From the ongoing joint operation by the Maldives National Defence Force and the Maldives Police Service to locate three individuals reported missing following an incident at sea. | MNDF
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has announced that despite an extensive air and sea search covering a vast area, there is still no sign of a soldier, a police officer, and a boat captain who went missing during a maritime operation.
The individuals missing following the capsizing of the supply boat "Friend 4" have been identified as 39-year-old Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Mohamed, a native of GDh. Thinadhoo serving in the MNDF Fire and Rescue Service, and 33-year-old Police Sergeant Ali Naafiu. The third person missing is the vessel's captain, 35-year-old Mohamed Hamdhoon, a native of Dhonveli in Th. Madifushi.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated on Friday that a vast area has been searched by sea and air in a joint operation with the Police to locate the missing persons.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated that on August 6, an aerial search covering 881 square nautical miles was conducted using a Maldivian aircraft and a UAV drone from the MNDF Air Corps. In addition, the MNDF confirmed that a maritime search spanning 310.10 square nautical miles was carried out using the Coast Guard Ship *Imaduddin*, fast interceptor craft, sea ambulances "SA038" and "SA037," as well as a police launch.
The MNDF stated that despite ongoing search efforts, the three individuals have yet to be located.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) received the report of this incident at approximately 22:37 on the night of August 5, 2026.
A supply boat traveling from Th. Madifushi to Huvadhu Atoll with a cargo of aggregates and river sand has completely sunk.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has rescued seven out of the eight individuals who were on board the vessel at the time of the incident.
