Police provided emergency assistance on Thursday to a cargo vessel en route from Male' to Fuvahmulah after it began sinking with 17 people and a large quantity of goods on board.
The vessel, named Havaas, issued a distress call at 12:21 after water began flooding the hull. According to police, the boat has since been escorted to Fuvahmulah and is currently being unloaded.
Captain Ibrahim Shah told Sun that the incident began when the fibre at the top corner of the boat cracked, allowing water to enter. He noted that sea conditions were rough at the time, and the vessel was about 10 miles from Fuvahmulah when the flooding started.
“The guy on duty told me the water was increasing. When I checked, I saw the fibre layer had come off,” Shah said.
މާލެއިން ފުރައިގެން ފުވައްމުލަކަށް ދަތުރުކުރަމުން ދިޔަ ހަވާސް ބޯޓު ދިޔަވެ އަޑިއަށްދާކަމުގެ މައުލޫމާތު 2026 ޖަނަވަރީ 1 ވަނަ ދުވަހުގެ 12:21 އެހާކަންހާއިރު ފުލުހުންނަށް ލިބުމާ ގުޅިގެން ފުލުހުން ވަނީ އެހީތެރިކަން ފޯރުކޮށްދީފައި. އަދި ބޯޓު މިހާރު ފުވައްމުލަކަށް ގެނެވި، މުދާ… pic.twitter.com/DIMLFn4j7m
— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) January 1, 2026
Although the boat was equipped with an auto pump and three additional pumps, they were unable to drain the water. Police arrived with a fourth pump when the vessel was two miles from Fuvahmulah, which helped reduce the flooding.
Shah said the MNDF also responded with a boat when the vessel was about a mile from shore. “I told them we could reach the harbour. The MNDF came behind us,” he added.
The boat was carrying 17 people: six crew members, nine passengers, the captain, and a cashier. No injuries were reported.
The cargo included goods valued at MVR 5 million. Shah said a few sacks of staple food were damaged in the incident.