### **Maldives Ferry Speedboat Sinks, All 48 People Rescued – Chinese Diving Instructor Captures Dramatic Ordeal**

On 2 March, a ferry speedboat en route to Malé, Maldives, sank in the morning with 48 people on board, including three crew members and 45 passengers—among them, four children. Fortunately, all were rescued.

Ms. Gao, a Chinese freediving instructor who was on board, shared her harrowing experience. She explained that rescue boats arrived quickly, but due to rough weather, the entire operation took an hour and a half. She also helped several non-swimmers stay afloat.

Gao, 27, is a professional freediving coach currently based in Australia and was in the Maldives for diving. She had boarded the ferry from Dhigurah Island to Malé, planning to catch a flight back to Melbourne. “We departed at 7 AM, with an estimated journey time of one and a half hours. There were nearly 50 people on board, each carrying large suitcases. The weather was poor, with strong ocean swells,” she recalled.

She recounted that at approximately 7:40 AM, large waves may have flooded the engine compartment, causing a failure. “People were confused at first, but as panic set in, some wanted to jump off the boat.” By 8:10 AM, the vessel was heavily listing to the right, with water rushing inside. Passengers distributed life jackets as the boat circled in place.

“By 8:20 AM, more water was pouring in, and the outside water level was nearly at the windows. Everyone scrambled to inflate their life jackets. Around 8:40 AM, water completely covered the windows, and the boat was tilting at a severe angle. People feared they would be trapped inside, so some began jumping into the sea. The captain then called out, ‘Ready, jump.’ Within five minutes of the last person jumping, the boat fully sank.”

Ms. Gao noted that many life jackets had not been properly maintained, with faulty inflation canisters. “A lot of tourists couldn’t swim, and their life jackets wouldn’t inflate properly, so they were choking on water. As divers, we know you can inflate life jackets manually, so I went around helping others blow theirs up and kept people together in the water.” She admitted that she was initially fearful about being trapped inside, but once she was in the water, she felt calmer and focused on assisting others.

She estimated that the accident occurred in waters about 30 metres deep, with no nearby shallow areas. “Rescue boats started arriving around 9 AM—three in total. But the waves were so high that boarding was difficult. The entire rescue took about an hour and a half, and eventually, everyone was safely taken back to Dhigurah Island.” However, she lost all her belongings, including her wallet, laptop, passport, camera, and diving equipment, and now needs to return home to replace her documents.

On the afternoon of 2 March, Ms. Gao uploaded footage of the incident, recounting the terrifying experience. Some online viewers expressed fear just from watching, while others praised her composure, noting her calm and detailed narration.

“Everyone was panicking, especially some foreign tourists, because the captain didn’t give any instructions,” she added. She advised travellers to always familiarise themselves with life jacket locations and usage when boarding boats and, most importantly, to remain calm in emergencies.

According to local Maldivian media, the speedboat, named Huvafen, sank at approximately 7:57 AM while travelling from Dhigurah Island to Malé. The police confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely rescued, with no reported injuries. “Everyone has been transported back to Dhigurah Island and is in good health,” authorities stated. The cause of the sinking remains under investigation, and officials praised the swift response of the rescue teams.

At the time of the incident, a yellow weather alert for thunderstorms and strong winds was in effect across the central Maldives, including Dhigurah and Malé. The previous day, heavy rain and storms had caused widespread flooding on multiple islands. Rainfall on Dhiffushi Island exceeded 296mm, setting a new record for the highest single-day rainfall there. In response to the extreme weather, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu declared Monday, 3 March, a public holiday.