Home Minister Ali Ihusaan and Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed met today with the parents of Police Sergeant Ali Naafiu, who went missing at sea while working to rescue a sinking vessel. 

The police website stated that the Minister and Commissioner held the meeting after traveling to N. Manadhoo, the island where Naafiu's parents reside. The police also stated that during the meeting offering encouragement to his parents, Minister Ihusaan conveyed a special message to the family on behalf of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

During the meeting, the Police Commissioner conveyed that the entire police institution shares in the grief experienced by the family following Naafiu's disappearance while fulfilling his national duty, according to the police.

The police stated that praising Naafiu's spirit of service, the Commissioner noted that the courage he displayed in stepping out to assist individuals in distress symbolizes the heavy responsibility borne by the police. The Commissioner also assured that police well-wishes will always remain with the family in efforts to locate him, and that the police institution will stand steadfastly with the family at all times.

The police added that Minister Ihusaan also assured that the government shares in the sorrow of the families of those missing in the incident, highlighted the national courage shown by the officers, and assured that the government is closely monitoring and undertaking every possible effort to find those missing.

The Police Commissioner and the Minister also met with Naafiu's wife and child on August 12.

According to the latest information published on the MNDF website this week regarding the search operation conducted following the incident where three people went missing from a boat that sank in the Huvadhoo Sea, everyone who managed to exit the sinking boat was rescued. As the boat sank deeper than depths accessible by human diving, that information indicates that the missing individuals were unable to exit when the vessel went under.

MNDF stated that during the efforts to find the three people missing in the incident where the supply boat "Friend 4" capsized and sank 4.1 nautical miles northeast of GA. Kudalafari late on the night of August fifth, the entire area of the Huvadhoo Sea was searched by sea and air. Although assistance from a U.S. Navy aircraft was also sought for the search efforts, they have not yet been found through the work carried out so far.

Besides Naafiu, the boat's captain Mohamed Hamdoon and MNDF's Ibrahim Ahmad also went missing while working to rescue the supply boat, which took on water and sank while traveling from Th. Madifushi to Huvadhoo Atoll.

There were a total of eight people aboard that boat, including captain Hamdoon and seven foreigners. However, everyone except Hamdoon was rescued.

A person familiar with the matter previously told "Mihaaru News" that the three individuals went missing while attempting to pump out water to save the sinking vessel. A publicly circulated video shows the boat taking on water until one end submerged, and within moments, the boat sank vertically into the sea in that position. Another vessel could also be seen operating near the boat at the time.