Speedboat catches fire, passengers burnt

A speedboat travelling from Male’ to Hulhule’ caught fire, on Sunday, resulting in passengers on board the boat suffering from burns.

The three people on board the boat when the incident occurred jumped into the ocean to escape the blaze.

They were fished out of the water by a Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) boat.

Eyewitnesses reported that the boat caught fire after a loud explosion at around 2:30 pm.

“The boat exploded with a loud noise and then caught fire,” reported an eye witness.

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) officers managed to put out the fire within half an hour.

The incident is now being investigated by Marine Police Department.

The launch caught fire after it set off to Hulhumale’ from the jetty in front of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It had drifted near Funadhoo when MNDF officers managed to put out the fire.

The three Maldivians who were on board the boat are being treated at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.