An oil barge carrying 60,000 litres of diesel has sunk near the Embudu lagoon after a fire broke out earlier on Saturday.

MNDF received report of a fire on the barge at around 5:50pm on Saturday. The oil barge had been en route to Laamu Atoll from the capital Male' with 60,000 litres of diesel.

Four sailors aboard the vessel jumped into the ocean and were rescued by a launch from Kani Hotel, Maafushi, and have since been transported to Male' City.

MNDF Fire and Rescue Services had attempted to control the blaze one arriving at the scene. MNDF has since confirmed that the oil barge has sunk near Embudu lagoon with 60,000 litres of diesel on board. MNDF Coast Guard are active around the sunken vessel to watch for oil leaks into the ocean, and have confirmed no such leaks as of yet.