Man reported missing in boat sinking found holding wooden pallet

A Maldivian man who went missing after a cargo boat bound for GA. Vilingili sank off the coast of L. Olhuveli on early Thursday has been found alive.

The ‘Udhares’ boat was carrying cargo from Male’ City to Vilingili with 13 people – two Maldivian citizens and 10 expatriates - when it ran aground on a reef near Olhuveli, which houses the resort, Six Senses Laamu, before sinking.

The incident was reported to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Center at around 01:21 am.

While 12 of the people were successfully rescued, Ismail Afeef, initially identified by the MNDF as an elderly Maldivian man, went missing in the incident, promoting a joint search and rescue operation by the police and the Coast Guard.

A spokesperson from the MNDF later said that Ismail Afeef was found floating in the water with the aid of a wooden plank.

The spokesperson confirmed he was found alive, but did not provide any other details regarding his condition.

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The police said earlier that one of the expatriate workers swam to Six Senses Laamu, while the other 11 people were rescued by a boat from the resort.

All 12 people rescued are safe, said the police.

The MNDF has also issued an advisory asking boats traveling in the area to keep an eye out for cargo from the ‘Udhares’ boat, which is adrift to the west of Olhuveli.