A luxury safari vessel, the ‘Emperor Explorer,’ has been completely destroyed and subsequently sank following a major fire incident in the waters between Hulhumalé and Kurumba Maldives Resort.

According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the vessel succumbed to the blaze and sank at approximately 05:03 AM on Sunday morning while emergency teams were still conducting firefighting operations. Despite the efforts of the MNDF Fire and Rescue Service to contain the flames, the vessel was eventually lost to the sea.

The Maldives Police Service reported that two crew members were injured in the incident. Both individuals are currently receiving treatment at Hulhumalé Hospital for smoke inhalation. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, and investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.