Two people have sustained serious burns after an explosion on a boat in Alif Alif Maalhos lagoon.
Maalhos council President Ismail Naseer said the explosion occurred on the Nasru boat near the island.
"There are two stories. Some say a battery exploded. Others say it was a gas cylinder explosion. Two people were severely burnt, about 80 percent," he said.
The two foreign workers were alone on the boat at the time of the incident. They have now been transferred to Male' for treatment.
"At about 8:50 pm, [the incident occurred]. The boat belongs to a company that does construction work on the island," Naseer said.
He added that police have closed off the scene and are investigating further.
With a total population of 775, Maalhos has a resident population of about 500 people. There are between 50 and 40 foreigners living on the island.
