Maldives National Defence Force MNDF says the boat that caught fire last night had completely burned down and sunk into the the sea.
The "Holhudhoo Boat" caught fire while traveling from Hirilandhoo to Male'. The incident occurred off Thaa Kandudhoo.
MNDF rescued 17 out of the 18 individuals traveling on the boat. A local man named Ali Mushfiq Mohamed Shareef, 25, has been reported missing since the incident and is believed to have been thrown aboard when the vessel caught fire.
MNDF said the boat sank around 2:07 am in the same area. MNDF also said that parts of the ship are floating and advised other sea farers to pay special attention.
Meanwhile, MNDF said today that MNDF Coast Guard Ship Azi, FIC Maphath, HP 114, divers, Air Corps drones, and MNDF Central Area Command troops are conducting search operations to find the missing youth.
