A vessel en route from Malé to Gaafu Alif Villingili ran aground and sank near Laamu Olhuveli early Thursday, leaving one person missing.
The Maldives Police Service received the distress call at approximately 1:25 am when the vessel ran aground on the reef.
The vessel, identified as “Udhares”, had 13 people on board at the time of the incident.
One person went missing. Another swam to the Olhuveli resort, and the remaining 12, including two Maldivians and nine expatriates, were rescued by a vessel from a resort. Authorities said all 12 rescued are in stable condition.
According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), an active search-and-rescue operation is underway to locate the missing individual.
Meanwhile, authorities have warned vessels operating in the area to exercise caution, as cargo from the sunken vessel is drifting west of Olhuveli.
