A soldier, police officer and the captain of a supply boat has gone missing while engaged in a rescue operation after the boat started taking on water and sinking. 

The boat started sinking while travelling from Laamu atoll to Huvadhu atoll. 

MNDF stated early this morning that the supply boat, 'Friend 4', had been carrying sand and gravel when tall waves caused the boat to start taking on water and begin sinking. When MNDF received reports of this at around 23:22 hrs last night, authorities immediately responded.

However, the boat sank even as the rescue operation was in progress. At the time of the incident, there were eight persons on board the vessel, of which seven were rescued, MNDF said.

However, the captain of the boat, as well as an MNDF officer and police officer who had been part of the rescue mission have gone missing, MNDF said. Authorities are searching for the three missing persons via sea and air. 

Further details regarding the incident are yet to be disclosed.