Maldives National Defence Force MNDF says a boat traveling to Noonu Atoll from Male' had run aground on a reef and sunk.
MNDF said that the boat named 'Landhoo Boat' had run aground on a reef off Kaafu Maafaru and that the incident was reported around 10:55 am.
It said that people from Gaafaru along with other vessels in the area had helped those on the vessel in distress. MNDF added that most of those aboard had been taken to Gaafaru.
It was reported that 48 people had been traveling aboard the vessel including 12 Maldivians and 36 foreigners.
Authorities have now confirmed that the boat has sunk after the incident.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Landhoo Council Mansoor Mohamed said to 'The Press' that the boat had been traveling to Landhoo from Male' and had stopped at Gaafaru because of bad weather.
He said that it was scheduled to leave for Landhoo today and the incident had happened right after it had left the dock in Gaafaru.
