104 nautical miles searched; Man still missing
The MNDF has launched extensive search and rescue operations, covering an area of 104 nautical miles.
The search continues for Raj Kumar, a Nepalese crew member who fell overboard from the SeaMax ship near Addu and Fuvahmulah on Monday, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed Tuesday.
Raj Kumar was reported missing early Monday night when the SeaMax was approaching approximately 8 nautical miles near Fuvahmulah. His disappearance was discovered during routine checks onboard the vessel.
The MNDF has launched extensive search and rescue operations, covering an area of 104 nautical miles. However, as of Tuesday evening, there have been no signs of the missing crew member.
The incident coincides with severe weather conditions across the Maldives as the western monsoon transitions into the northern monsoon. The Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) had earlier warned of worsening weather, predicting strong winds and rough seas as a result of the changing monsoon patterns.
The Met Office reported the development of a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, which could potentially influence weather conditions in the southern Maldives. Storms associated with this cyclone are expected to bring stronger winds and dangerous sea conditions, complicating ongoing search efforts.
