MNDF ceases search efforts by air for four men lost at sea

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has said that they has ceased rescue operations by air in search for the four people that went missing at sea earlier this month.

MNDF began searches earlier this month for Mohamed Sammoon, age 21, of Kunaaviyaage Gaafu Alif Kolamaafushi, a surfer who went missing at sea near Gaafu Alif Kolamaafushi on the 4th of this month, 32 year old Abdulla Waheed of Hiyaleege, Laamu Maavashu, and 39 year old Hassan Rasheed of Handhuvareege, Alif Dhaalu Maamigili who were onboard a fishing boat named “Azum” that also went missing on the 4th of this month and Mohamed Falah, 30, of Rosy Side, Gaafu Dhaalu Fares-Maathoda, who went missing after he left from Gaafu Dhaalu Fares-Maathoda on a dinghy on the 9th of this month.

MNDF Media Official Colonel Abdul Raheem said that search efforts for the four missing men have so far been futile, but said that the search operations will carry until they receive some information regarding the men.

However, Colonel Abdul Raheem said that MNDF has stopped conducting search missions from the air and that the Indian Navy aircraft facilitated by the Indian government to assist in the searches has also now departed.

The Media Official said that all rescue coordination’s have now been communicated as per to due procedure for search and rescue operations. He said that the scale of the operation however, has now been reduced.

Local rescue efforts using boats from respective islands are still being continued.