Boat carrying 3 goes missing; UAVs deployed to assist in search

A fishing boat carrying three people on board went missing on Friday, after it left M. Maduvvari to fish in the waters near Raiymandhoo.

Ibrahim Nisham, the vice president of Maduvvari Council, told Sun on Friday that the boat “Farihi” left the island at around 04:00 pm.

It was reported missing on Friday night.

It was initially reported that the boat was carrying two people – both males – when it went missing. However, a spokesperson for the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said the authorities later received reports there were three people on board.

The three people were reportedly visiting from K. Maafushi.

UAVs deployed to assist in search

The MNDF Coast Guard has launched a search operation to find the missing boat, deploying teams on the Coast Guard harbor craft 114 and the Coast Guard fast interceptor craft ‘Maafaiy’.

Meanwhile, the MNDF Air Corps had also deployed the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones it procured last month to assist in the search.

It marks the first time for the drones to be used in a search and rescue operation.

The MNDF has searched over 440 nautical miles so far.