The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has said the foreign national who went missing after a SIWEC landing craft capsized in the Kaashidhoo sea on Wednesday is believed to be 550 meters under the sea.
In response to a question from a journalist, the MNDF media officer said the landing craft capsized after water flooded the vessel. The missing man was in the engine room at the time.
"We have obtained information that states the missing foreign crew member was inside the engine room. The landing craft of the SIWEC company sank and is about 550 metres under the water, about a mile from Lhaviyani atoll in the Kaashidhoo sea," the media officer said.
The media officer did not respond to questions about whether the MNDF can go to depths of 550 metres.
MNDF officer Ali Hamid was killed when the vessel capsized. There were six people onboard the SIWEC landing craft. An internal investigation is underway to find how the incident occurred.
