Maldives seeks foreign support to locate 3 missing after boat sinking
Friend 4, which was carrying aggregate and construction sand, sank on Wednesday night after taking on water in rough seas.
Top Stories
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it is seeking assistance from partner countries in the search for three people who remain missing after the vessel Friend 4 sank while travelling from Laamu Atoll to Huvadhu Atoll.
The ministry said on Saturday night that it was working with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Maldives Police Service to support the search operation.
Friend 4, which was carrying aggregate and construction sand, sank on Wednesday night after taking on water in rough seas.
The three people missing are the vessel's captain, Mohamed Hamdhoon; MNDF Fire and Rescue Service Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Ahmed; and Police Sergeant Ali Nafiu.
The two officers had boarded the vessel as part of a rescue operation after it began taking on water.
According to the Foreign Ministry, locating the missing men remains a priority, and discussions are under way with partner countries to obtain technical and logistical assistance for the operation.
"We will utilise all available support to assist in the search operations," the ministry said.
The announcement comes amid public criticism over the government's response to the incident, with questions raised over why international assistance was not sought earlier.
Some of the criticism has drawn comparisons with a recent cave-diving incident in Vaavu Atoll, when foreign assistance was sought to locate missing tourists.
Meanwhile, the MNDF said search and rescue operations for the three men are continuing by air and sea.
According to the military, aerial searches have so far covered 6,112 square nautical miles, while vessels involved in the operation have searched 1,370.10 square nautical miles.
The search for Mohamed Hamdhoon, Ibrahim Ahmed and Ali Nafiu remains ongoing.
