Passengers rescued from boat near Maniyafushi

Passengers have been rescued from Venus after it ran aground on a reef near Kaafu Maniyafushi en route to Malé from Fuvahmulah.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Spokesperson Major Hussain Ali told Sun Online that the boat sank after hitting the reef at 9:10 p.m. on Sunday.

He said that everyone was rescued by Coast Guard, but it was not possible to continue efforts in the area due to bad weather.

The passengers were wearing lifejackets and waiting on the reef when Coast Guard arrived, he added, and they were safely taken onboard the Coast Guard vessel.

Venus was carrying 24 people, including Bangladeshis, when it ran aground.

Major Hussain Ali said that efforts would begin to pull the boat up to the surface when the weather improves.