The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coastguard has safely rescued the crew of a missing cargo vessel, while a kayaker lost at sea has been found alive by a group of staff members from the Residence Maldives Resort in Gaafu Alifu Atoll.
The first incident involved the cargo vessel ‘AAA-37’, which went missing after setting sail from Thilafushi Island in Kaafu Atoll at dawn on Friday, bound for Medhufushi Island Resort in Meemu Atoll. The authorities were alerted later that evening. The vessel and its four-person crew were subsequently located, and all were in good health. They are safely continuing their journey to Medhufushi Island Resort aboard a coastguard vessel, according to MNDF.
In the search operation, the MNDF Coastguard utilised its vessel Shaheed Ali and enlisted the support of an aircraft from Maldivian, the national carrier, to expand their reach and effectiveness.
In the second incident, a 32-year-old Bangladeshi national was reported missing near Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll on Sunday afternoon. The man was kayaking alone in the waters surrounding the resort.
He was found on Monday morning near the Residence Maldives Resort in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, some 39 kilometres away, by the resort’s staff. He is reportedly in good health, and arrangements are being made to transport him back to his place of employment at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort.
The two incidents occurred amid severe weather conditions across the country, prompting nationwide alerts and advisories from the Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office), the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the MNDF.