2 vessels that hit Sinamalé Bridge sink outside Maldivian waters
Authorities have said the bridge did not sustain major damage.
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The two vessels that struck a pillar of the Sinamalé Bridge on Thursday night have sunk at sea, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has said.
The vessels, a fuel-carrying barge and a tugboat that were under the custody of Maldives Customs Service, drifted into the bridge during the incident. Videos circulated on social media showed the vessels being carried by the current before hitting the structure.
Authorities have said the bridge did not sustain major damage.
The MNDF said the two vessels later drifted beneath the bridge and continued out of Malé Atoll. Nine crew members who were on board were rescued.
“As the two fuel-carrying vessels were in a severely deteriorated condition, they took on water and sank tonight about 30 nautical miles east of Malé Atoll, outside Maldivian territorial waters,” the MNDF said.
The vessels are understood to be the two boats seized in April after allegedly entering Maldivian waters without authorisation. Local media reported at the time that relevant authorities became aware of their presence about a week after they had entered the country.
The Sinamalé Bridge, which was built with assistance from the Chinese government, was inspected following the collision.
The government and the Chinese Embassy in the Maldives have said the inspections found no damage to the bridge’s main structure.
