The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Coast Guard has rescued 12 people who were stranded on a barge tied to a tugboat.
The tugboat named Mutha Coral began its journey to the Maldives from Indonesia. The crew of the tugboat reported after finding people on the barge.
There were 12 people on the barge and they are fishermen from a foreign fishing vessel, according to the Coast Guard.
They claimed to have boarded the barge after their vessel collided with the barge and was destroyed and sank during a storm at night.
The incident occurred about 140 miles from Maldives and the 12 fishermen have now been handed over to the Maldives Immigration.
The MNDF is working with other relevant agencies to investigate further.
