Maldives National Defense Force MNDF says three people have suffered burns after an oil carrier docked at Thilafushi caught fire today.
They said MNDF Fire and Rescue from its Thilafushi station responded to an incident at the Industrial Island earlier today when an oil carrier named 'Valia 7' caught fire.
MNDF said that the vessel caught fire because of a spark that followed after the vessel's engine was ignited and that the crew ignited the engine after loading the oil on to the vessel.
They mentioned that the vessel carried around 20,000 liters of oil when the fire broke out.
MNDF reported that three people suffered burns in the incident and that they were then rushed to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male'.
MNDF said the boat sank while trying to extinguish the fire. The oil tanks on the boat have now risen above the water, and troops from the MNDF Malay Area Command, Coast Guard Second Squadron have started removing them from the area.
