A huge blaze broke out in a speedboat moored at the HDh. Hanimaadhoo harbour late last night. The fire completely destroyed the vessel, and left some crew injured.

Police said that they received reports of the incident at around 12:20am last night. 

The captain and a crew member of the boat sustained varying levels of injuries in the incident. The crew member, however, has been discharged from hospital after treatment. 

The captain continues to receive treatment, with him now transferred to the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital after first receiving care at the Hanimaadhoo Health Centre. 

The owner of the affected vessel is Mohamed Idhrees from Hanimaadhoo. This was the largest of three vessels owned by him. 

Hanimaadhoo Council President Ali Ibrahim said that the fire had ignited while the crew had been starting its engine to head off to pick up some passengers arriving at the Hanimaadhoo Airport. At the time, the captain and two crew members were on board. 

The captain, who sustained injuries in the incident, had responded to the fire by helping to move away other vessels moored nearby to prevent the fire from spreading, the council president said. 

He suffered burns on his face, left leg, right arm and other areas. However, his condition is reported to be stable, Ibrahim said. 

Residents of the island helped Police and MNDF in controlling the fire. Although the fire has been put out, the vessel has been damaged beyond use, according to Ibrahim.