Two oil tankers which collided with bridge pillar sinks after taking in water

The two large oil tankers that collided with the bridge piers have subsequently taken on water and sunk.

According to information provided to the media by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), nine crew members were rescued from the two vessels after they drifted beneath the bridge from Malé harbor toward the open sea last night.

MNDF stated that both fuel tankers were in bad condition.

The authority further confirmed that the vessels subsequently took on water and sank tonight approximately 30 nautical miles east of Malé Atoll, outside the territorial waters of the Maldives.

Sun has learned that the incident, which occurred at approximately 10:30pm last night, involved two vessels that had previously been seized for unauthorized entry into Maldivian territory.

Reports indicate that 20 Indian crew members were aboard the two vessels that collided with the Sinamalé Bridge, with nine crew members on the "KG 1" and 11 on the "AL 1."

In July, the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) issued an urgent appeal for humanitarian assistance, reporting that the crew had exhausted their supplies of food, water, and fuel. The union had also warned at the time that the vessels’ anchors had broken, creating a serious risk to the crew and other vessels in the vicinity.

An official source familiar with the matter told Sun that the crew members are currently under the supervision of Maldives Immigration. While most of the 20 crew members have already left the country, authorities are working to deport the remaining nine individuals.

Commenting on the incident, Infrastructure Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib said that although the structural integrity of the Sinamalé Bridge was not compromised when the drifting tankers collided with it, minor surface scratches were detected. The Minister assured that the bridge’s maintenance contractor, CHEC, would repair the damage in accordance with established technical standards.