Debris from wrecked safari boat washing up on Dharavandhoo beach
1 ޖެނުއަރީ 2019 | އަންގާރަ 17:43The boat ran aground reef patch on the 20th of November
Debris from the wrecked safari washing ashore
Chunks of debris from a safari boat that ran aground a patch of reef in Baa atoll Dharavandhoo have polluted the beach of the island.
While it has been over a month since authorities have ignored the baot, chunks of rotted wood from “Blue Lagoon” have been washing ashore since late December, with the island residents raising concern regarding possible environment-threatening incidents that may follow.
The boat ran aground a patch of reef on the 20th of November and the owner was initially ordered to refloat it by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
27 passengers had been onboard when the boat ran aground and the owner of the vessel had initially worked to refloat it. The boat was reported to have been causing damage to the coral reef it currently sits on.
However, it has been left unaided since then, until stormy seas destroyed the ship beyond use.
The region in which the incident occurred is part of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
EPA earlier revealed that they are inspecting damages caused by the shipwreck, to the coral reefs.
The island council has further expressed concern over the possible impact the incident may have on the island, known for its fast-growing businesses in tourism.
