Rough Weather to Continue Over the Weekend as Search Operations Continue for Missing People from Sea Incidents

Rough weather conditions are expected to continue across parts of the Maldives this weekend, with authorities carrying out search operations for missing people following two separate vessel incidents and reports of damage caused by strong winds.

The Maldives Meteorological Services (MET Office) said weather conditions are expected to remain poor in both northern and southern atolls on Friday and Saturday. Seas in the south are expected to become rough, while sea conditions in other areas are forecast to remain moderately rough.

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For the next 24 hours, the Met Office said rain will affect parts of the northern and southern regions, with squalls and thunderstorms possible in some islands. Light showers are also expected in central atolls.

Winds in the southern atolls are expected from the south and southwest at 5 to 15 miles per hour, while northern and central atolls are expected to experience winds from the west and northwest at 10 to 20 miles per hour. Wind speeds may increase up to 35 miles per hour during squalls.

The Met Office said seas in the southern atolls will be moderate, becoming moderately rough during squalls, while seas in central and northern areas are expected to remain moderately rough and could turn rough during squalls.

The weather conditions have affected ongoing search and rescue operations. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has expanded its search for two people missing after a landing craft vessel sank near K. Gaafaru, deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a Maldivian flight alongside sea and diving operations.

The MNDF Coastguard has been conducting air, sea and diving searches since Friday after the landing craft, travelling from K. Thilafushi to Gaafaru, began taking on water and sank. The Coastguard and Maldives Police Service vessels continue searching the area by sea.

In a separate incident, the MNDF Coastguard and Maldives Police Service are searching for three people missing after the supply vessel Friend 4 sank while travelling from Laamu Atoll to Huvadhu Atoll yesterday.

The vessel, which was carrying gravel and river sand, had eight people onboard at the time of the incident. Seven people have been rescued, while the missing include the vessel’s captain, an MNDF officer and a police officer who were involved in rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, a safari vessel docked outside K. Maafushi was reportedly pushed ashore by strong winds during the rough weather. Footage shared on social media showed the vessel repeatedly striking the shoreline wall, with visible damage to the vessel.