Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has announced plans to use their ‘diving robot’ in the search for the two missing children in Addu City.

MNDF’s media officer, Captain Ibrahim Azim said that a large area has been searched, by sea and air, but that they are working to do more, including use their diving robot.

MNDF said that it will use all available resources in the search for the teens, and that they will continue the operation ‘without stopping’. Azim added that more Coastguard divers have been dispatched to Addu City, to extend the search.

Three students from Hithadhoo School were reported missing at around 11:30 am on Saturday, after going swimming.

16-year-old Raif Ali was found later that afternoon. However, two others, Ali Fahmy, 17 and Mayameen Ali, 15 are still missing. A pair of shorts, believed to have belonged to Mayameen was found on Monday. It was located near the seaward side of Addu City’s Hithadhoo region, where they are reported to have gone swimming.

The whole country was facing severe weather conditions on Saturday, with some islands even experiencing swell waves.