The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has stated that while the entire Huvadhoo Sea has been surveyed to locate the three men missing after the supply boat "Friend 4" capsized, the likelihood of finding them on the sea surface is now very slim.

The incident occurred on the night of the 5th of this month as the cargo boat was traveling from Th. Madifushi to Huvadhoo Atoll. Following the capsize, boat captain Mohamed Hamdhoon (35), Police Sergeant Ali Naafiu (33), and MNDF Sergeant Ibrahim Ahmed (39) went missing. MNDF has conducted extensive air and sea operations accounting for wind and drift patterns, covering reefs across Laamu Atoll and Gaafu Alifu Atoll.

The operation has deployed Maldivian aircraft, military Bayraktar TB2 drones, and the Coast Guard Ship Imaduddin. Additionally, following a request from the Maldivian government, the United States provided assistance by deploying a US Navy P-8 aircraft, which surveyed 6,300 square nautical miles over the Huvadhoo Sea yesterday.

MNDF noted that based on information provided by survivors, the probability of locating the missing crew on the water's surface is low. The vessel sank at an estimated depth exceeding 1,600 meters—a depth inaccessible to human divers and beyond the operational limits of conventional or nuclear naval submarines.

As of 6:00 PM yesterday, cumulative search efforts over the 11 days since the incident have covered 17,220 square nautical miles by air, 2,790.10 square nautical miles by sea, and 288 square nautical miles across shorelines and reefs.