Boat carrying 15 sinks off Eydhafushi; passengers rescued

A boat carrying 15 passengers from Male’ City to R. Atoll has sunk off B. Eydhafushi.

The boat, ‘Aalaa’, sent out a distress call to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) at around 05:22 am Thursday, after it began taking in water.

The boat was 2.5 nautical miles off Eydhafushi at the time.

The MNDF Northern Area Command Coastguard deployed a sea ambulance and harbor craft to assist the boat.

The 15 passengers were rescued and taken to Eydhafushi on the sea ambulance.

The boat sank at around 08:42 am.