Police investigate the sinking of Hivvaru boat

Police have commenced investigations into the sinking of Hivvaru boat.

A Police Media Official said that a Marine Police Team is presently active in Addu City for this investigation.

Hivvaru boat was found about ten days after it went missing, about 290 miles east of Ga. Dhaandhoo, by a Sri Lankan fishing vessel.

The Coast Guard travelled to the scene of the incident and transported the survivors of Hivvaru boat to Addu City on Tuesday.

Out of the ten people on-board, a Bangladeshi and Hassan Futhaa, 76, of Sosun Villa, Gdh. Rathafandhoo, died.

The people who survived were three Bangladeshis, Ali Ameez, 11, of Kaafoorutholhige, S. Hithadhoo; boat captain Abdullah Nasru, 22, of Kaafoorutholhige, S. Hithadhoo; Mohamed ShihamHabeeb, 25, of Violetfehi, S. Hithadhoo; Mohamed Shaheem, 24, of Manzilge; and Hassan Khaleel, 42, of Lakshaneevilla, Maradhoo Feydhoo.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) cited the boat captain and said that the Bangladeshi and Hassan Futhaa died while they were all on-board a dinghy after Hivvaru boat started sinking, and that their bodies were disposed of into the sea.

MNDF said that the boat was not to be seen when they arrived at the scene.