The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard has urged the public to be cautious of the adverse weather conditions while travelling for Eid-al-Adha holidays.
Speaking to PSM News, First Sergeant at MNDF Coast Guard Ibrahim Nishreen said it is very important to travel according to the weather conditions especially during the Eid-al-Adha holidays. He said that it is very important to ensure that boats have adequate life jackets for passengers, especially if women and children are present on the boat.
Meanwhile, First Sergeant at MNDF Coast Guard Mohamed Shafi said that captains and boat operators should pay special attention to ensure that vessels are properly fueled before setting sail. He also urged the public to be especially vigilant during bad weather at sea as the Coast Guard sometimes receive information when vessels run out of fuel. In addition, he said that it is important to make sure that there is enough water for all the passengers travelling for more than four hours at sea. He also said that the Coast Guard and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) are conducting a special operation called Operation al-Adha to ensure that vessels are safe to navigate.
MNDF advised vessels to be well prepared before travelling. MNDF also advised the public to pay attention to the alerts issued by the Maldives Meteorological Service (MET Office) and to ensure that the fire extinguishers are working properly. MNDF also urged all travelers to wear life jackets while travelling.