A Nepali man has been reported missing at sea while on board a vessel travelling from Addu City to Fuvahmulah City, with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard launching a search and rescue operation amid worsening weather conditions.
The missing man, identified as Raj Kumar of Nepal, was aboard a ship named Seamax, police said. The vessel departed Addu City at 11:30 p.m. on Monday.
According to police, Raj Kumar last spoke to the vessel’s captain at 1:15 a.m. The crew discovered he was missing when the boat was about eight miles from Fuvahmulah City.
Authorities received the report of his disappearance in the early hours of Tuesday, and police are investigating the incident.
The Maldives Meteorological Service has warned of worsening weather conditions in the coming days, which could complicate the ongoing search efforts.