All four of the crew members aboard the Baa atoll-bound ‘Venus’, which capsized near Gaafaru island on Wednesday night, are uninjured.

A Maldivian and three expatriates were aboard the vessel at the time of incident. Venus had been carrying stones and wood cargo. The vessel is built to carry large cargo, up to 78-foot. 

The Maldives National Defence Force’s (MNDF) coast guard division said that choppy seas in the Kaashidhoo channel, which is known for its depth and intense sea conditions, caused Venus to capsize.

Rescue Officers say that while the vessel had taken on water from the rough seas and this had caused it topple over, they managed to recover the vessel by unstrapping some of its cargo.

The MNDF has warned sea travelers near Gaafaru and Kaashidhoo islands in Kaafu atoll to be cautious of cargo loosened from the vessel, which officers say is drifting near the area.