Two men killed by falling container

Two Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) staff died on Monday night after being hit by a metal disk from a container crane, which was flung after the crane's wire gave way while unloading a container from a vessel at Male' Commercial Harbour.

Police said that the two victims of this accident, which took place at around 9:40 p.m., are Mohamed Nashid of Chaandhanee Villa, Noonu Kudafari, and Ibrahim Shareef of Maafannu Paris Villa, Male’.

Nashid died from serious injuries to his head before reaching Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), and Shareef died while being treated at the hospital.

A third person involved in this accident, a 42 year-old-man who received minor injuries, was treated at IGMH and was soon released. Sources have told Sun Online that the crane operator also fainted upon seeing the container fall, rendering the crane stationary until the operator was removed from the crane.

The accident took place when the crane wire snapped while lifting the container and a large metal disk, held on the wire to balance the load, was flung onto the men working on the ship. The container ship is from India.

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has expressed his condolences to the families of the two MPL workers who passed away. The President and First Lady are in Saudi Arabia for a Umrah pilgrimage.

“President is closely checking the situation. I am at the cemetery. Respects have been conveyed to the two families on behalf of the President,” Spokesperson at the President’s Office Ibrahim Muaz said.

Families of the two victims have revealed that a funeral service for Nashid and Shareef will be observed at Aa Sahara, Male’ before they are buried after Fajr prayer early Tuesday morning.