Safari boat with 17 tourists runs aground coral reef

A safari boat has run aground on a coral reef, with 17 tourists aboard.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said that its Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Center had received a report of the boat running aground a reef in Hanifaru island of Baa atoll at around 4:42am on Thursday.

MNDF said that a team from its Northern Area Coastguard Squadron- including divers- was immediately dispatched to the area, to help refloat the vessel.

Noting that both the safari boat and its (smaller) diving boat had run aground, MNDF said that both were refloated by 7:58am.

MNDF said that all individuals aboard- 17 tourists and 17 crew members- did not suffer any injuries in the incident.