Authorities are conducting inspections to gauge the extent of damage caused to the Male' reef and the Sinamale' Bridge from the two boats that went adrift last night. 

Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA) Chief Executive Hassaan Mohamed stated that the matter is being looked into with the incident being considered as one of vessels running aground reefs. 

It has been learned that the two boats went adrift at around 10pm last night after the anchor rode broke in bad weather. At the time it had been anchored between Male' and Dhoonidhoo. 

The boat initially ran aground the Male' reef near the Carnival area, causing extensive damage to the reef. 

The tides then moved the boat on, and it collided with the superstructure of the Sinamale' Bridge. It is believed that a metal antenna and a navigation light of one boat hit the bridge. The boat then drifted under the bridge towards the southern side of Male'.

Following the incident, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) technicians have been active at the bridge site, reviewing the extent of the damage caused. 

MNDF, meanwhile, has stated that the two boats that went adrift last night had been under the control of Maldives Customs Service. 

Customs is yet to comment on the incident, and so it is unclear why the boats had been taken under their oversight.