MNDF said the vessel, with three passengers onboard, left Thilafushi at 6:00 hrs on Friday morning. The vessel was reported missing at 17:15 hrs last evening.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has launched a search operation for the vessel 'AAA-37', which was carrying cargo from Kaafu Atoll Thilafushi to Meemu Atoll Medhufushi Island Resort, approximately 140 km from Velana International Airport.
MNDF said the vessel, with three passengers onboard, left Thilafushi at 6:00 hrs on Friday morning. The vessel was reported missing at 17:15 hrs last evening.
According to MNDF, Coastguard's ship 'Shaheed Ali' has been deployed to search for the missing vessel.
MNDF has asked the public to report any information about the vessel.
The vessel went missing during the onset of the southwest monsoon with bad weather conditions. The Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) had issued a Yellow Alert for all atolls from Baa atoll to Seenu (Addu) atoll until 00:00 hrs last night.
The Met Office predicts heavy rain, rough seas and strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts of 50 mph between these hours in these areas.