Caution urged over drifting goods from capsized cargo boat

Authorities have urged travelers to exercise caution over drifting goods from the cargo boat which capsized near Male’ Atoll Emboodhoo Finolhu on Sunday morning.

The incident was reported at approximately 7:27am on Sunday morning. The cargo boat, ‘Balma 6’, capsized near Taj Exotica Resort.

Maldives Police Service, via a post on X, cautioned travelers passing the area to exercise caution over drifting goods from the boat. The authority, citing Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), said that the goods are likely drifting westwards.

Notably, two out of the four people on board the vessel when it capsized went missing the incident: a Maldivian and an expatriate. The Maldivian, who has been identified as the boat’s captain, was later found deceased in Taj Exotica Resort's lagoon.

Search efforts for the missing expatriate are still ongoing.

The remaining two individuals on board the vessel were rescued by a passing vessel at the time of the incident.