Toxic gas cylinder picked up at sea handed over to MNDF

A toxic gas cylinder picked up by fishermen near Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi has been handed over to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

A police media official said that the toxic gas cylinder was picked up on Monday and that it has been handed over to the MNDF Northern Area Post by the police.

The police said that the cylinder measures 57 inches in length, and that the police discovered it when officers visited a workshop, after receiving information that a gas cylinder of unknown nature had been taken to the workshop.

The cylinder is marked NH3, and is suspected to contain ammonia which can be toxic, and was therefore handed over to MNDF for further checks, said the police.

MNDF Medial Official Hussain Ali said today that the cylinder does contain ammonia and that it is now kept under the supervision of MNDF.

“If there is any leakage, it could threaten lives. But it is now kept under MNDF supervision, and MNDF will work towards destroying it,” he said.

He said that it was not possible to say from which direction the gas cylinder came to Maldivian territory, as it was picked up by fishermen.