News Desk
MALE’ — A severe Southwest Monsoon weather system battered much of the Maldives on Friday, triggering dangerous maritime accidents, flight diversions at the nation’s main international airport, and heavy rainfall across central and northern atolls. Search and rescue operations are under way after a commercial landing craft overturned in turbulent seas, leaving two people missing.
The landing craft, operated by the petroleum and logistics firm The Hawks, capsized during peak monsoon squalls near Kaafu Atoll. Emergency responders and local craft rescued eight individuals from the vessel and transported them safely to the island of Kaafu Gaafaru. However, authorities confirmed that two crew members remain unaccounted for as sea searches continue.
The incident was part of a series of maritime emergencies reported across the archipelago as wind speeds surged. Off Kaafu Maafushi, the safari vessel Princess Lala — locally known as the “Maafushi Floating Bar” — dragged its anchor in heavy swells around 10:15 a.m. and drifted onto the island’s harbour breakwater reef.
Witnesses said the wooden vessel broke apart and disintegrated within ten minutes of impact. Videos circulated on social media showed individuals leaping into the sea to escape as waves pounded the vessel against the coral reef. The Maldives Police Service confirmed that six people were aboard at the time of the crash, and all were brought ashore without injury.
The hazardous sea conditions also prompted a rescue operation in Faafu Atoll late Thursday, where a speedboat carrying 15 people — including three crew members — took on water while en route from Nilandhoo to Dhaalu Meedhoo. Police vessels escorted the distressed boat back to Nilandhoo, with no casualties reported.
On land and in the air, the monsoon weather brought substantial transport disruptions. At Velana International Airport (VIA), intense rain squalls and reduced visibility forced multiple long-haul and regional airliners into extended holding patterns over Hulhulé. Tracking data indicated prolonged circling by flights operated by Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo, and FitsAir.
A Flydubai flight originating from Sri Lanka was forced to abandon its landing approach and divert back to Colombo, while at least four scheduled international arrival flights suffered significant delays.
The Maldives Meteorological Service (MET Office) issued a Yellow Alert across large swathes of the country on Friday morning, warning of wind gusts reaching 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and rough seas.
Meteorological data recorded over the 24 hours preceding Friday morning showed widespread torrential rain. Hulhumalé registered the highest rainfall in the country at 84.2 millimetres, followed closely by Baa Dharavandhoo at 83.5 millimetres, Alifu Alifu Thoddoo at 72.3 millimetres, and Addu Hithadhoo at 70.6 millimetres. Peak wind squalls during the same period reached 46 mph in Laamu Kadhdhoo, 44 mph in Noonu Maafaru, and 41 mph in Alifu Dhaalu Maamigili.
Forecasters attributed the sudden deterioration to a low-pressure trough forming north and south-east of the Maldives, driving dense rain clouds from the west. The MET Office warned that stormy conditions and elevated seas are expected to prevail across the entire country through the weekend.
The police and maritime safety authorities have urged vessel operators and island communities to exercise extreme caution, verify emergency equipment before embarking on sea journeys, and strictly adhere to official weather advisories.
