Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has stated that the two boats that went adrift last night took on water and sank 30 nautical miles outside Maldivian territory. 

MNDF Media Officer stated that the two boats were severely dilapidated and had taken on water, causing it to sink. They confirmed that the crew aboard the boats had been rescued. 

The two boats had been moored between Male' and Dhoonidhoo when adverse weather conditions caused the shared anchor rode to be damaged, sending the boats adrift at around 10pm last night.

One of the boats first ran aground the Male' reef near the Carnival area, causing extensive damage to the reef bed. Tides then pushed the boat away, and it drifted and hit the Sinamale' Bridge, before moving under the bridge towards south Male'. CHEC technicians later inspected the bridge and confirmed that the collision only caused surface scratches and no actual structural damage. 

MNDF stated last night that these two boats had been under the control of Maldives Customs Service. Any information regarding the boats can only be given by Customs, MNDF said. They stated that they had only been responsible for rescuing stranded crew members on the boats, who would then be handed over to the care of Customs. 

It has been learned that the crew on the two boats had been in plight and had been seeking assistance for several days now, and that the two boats had been sharing a single anchor. 

The boat AL1, which has not been officially designated an IMO number, and MT KG1, registered in Togo, entered Maldivian waters on April 26, Mihaaru News reports. 

The two boats claimed to have been sailing from Shinas, Oman to Kandla, India. The boats had not informed any relevant authorities but moored near Male' for about a week. They came to the attention of Maldivian authorities on May 3. 

Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef confirmed these facts in a press conference held on May 9.