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Worst reported sea disaster in Maldives - Passenger ferry boat capsized 21 deaths and 2 still missing

17 March 2004

Reports coming from the island of Thinadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (Southern Gaafu atoll) that a small ferry boat transferring football fans from the island of Villingili, Gaafu Alif Atoll (Northern Gaafu atoll) capsized at around 8:40 pm local time (GMT +5) this evening.

Enamaa Boat was carrying 122 people, including women and children, mostly from Thinadhoo. A passenger who survived the incident, reported to us on the phone from Thinadhoo. Mr. Ahmed said that most of the dead were women and children. According to him it was fortunate that a large number of the passengers were youths, including one of the football teams who played that day in Villingili, otherwise the death toll could have been quite large. Some reports say that the exact number of people on board is not really known yet but Ahmed confirms that it was not more than 1. Official figures confirmed according to Haveeru Daily that altogether there were 122 passengers aboard with 99 of them being rescued. The dead include six children, 12 women, and three men. This tragic incident has so far claimed over 21 lives and 2 still missing. The passengers were football fans and their family, travelling home after watching a match.

Maldivians, being seafarers, are usually very courageous at sea. This sometimes leads to tragic incidents as boats such as this are really supposed to carry only the certified number of passengers, which in this incident should have been 100 as confirmed by our source in Maldives.

“This is a very tragic and sad incident for our small country. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families of the bereaved. May God bless the souls of those who lost their lives and give strength to their families to go through what must be very enduring times” said a spokesman from the general council of the Maldivian Democratic Party.

This is the worst disaster in living memory in that Atoll and in the Maldives. Rescue divers and search teams are now in the area. Latest indications are that death toll is bound to rise as they find more people. It has now been nearly 3 days since the incident and there were lots of women and children on board, who will have a slim chance of survival.

Confirmed reports say that the incident happened around half way into the journey near Dhevvadhoo island when the waves generated by a passing by vessel caused the ferry to tilt to one side before capsizing. The exact number of people on board the ferry is still not confirmed by the authority.

More updates will be posted as we get them. Latest reports indicate that more than 100 people were rescued. Their condition is still not clear. The death toll will not be confirmed till later today.

Map of Maldives

Updated last at 09/12/2005 07:53:22 GMT