The "Enamaa Story" after 13 years

The capsized Enamaa Boat. Photo by: Flickr Website

13 years ago today on 17th March 2004,  21 people died with 2 missing when Enamaa boat capsized into the sea making it the biggest sea tragic incident in the history of the Maldives. The boat which was carrying 122 people, far more than its capacity was traveling at nine and a half nautical miles per hour to Thinadhoo Island after watching the home team play a football match in Vilingili Island in Gaafu Alifu atoll when a wave overturned it.

According to then National Security Service’s Coast Guard's official figures altogether there were 122 passengers aboard with 99 of them being rescued in the worst reported sea disaster in Maldives. With the support of Vessels of the Coast Guard, Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company, Thinadhoo island and other islands of Huvadhoo atoll, Enamaa boat was towed into Thinadhoo harbor on the night of Friday, 18th March by MIFCO’s Randhi-5 vessel.  According to the authorities Enamaa boat capsized 16 nautical miles off Thinadhoo & Villingili island was 11 nautical miles off the scene of the disaster, while Kooddoo was also 11 nautical miles from the scene. There were 13 nautical miles between the capsized Enamaa and Dhaandhoo island. The investigations found that, Miyaren boat of Gaaf Alif Dhaandhoo island refused to help Enamaa victims claiming that it had a 12-tonne fish catch in its storage at the time when it came near to the capsized Enamaa boat while they were on their way to Kooddoo Island. The investigation which took place after taking the full crew members of Miyaren boat under custody also further revealed that Miyaren boat came to Enamaa & survivors of Enamaa boat asked the crew of Miyaren boat to rescue them and take them to Thinadhoo. However, the crew of Miyaren boat said that they did not have enough fuel to travel to Thinadhoo but could take the survivors to Villingili island in Gaafu Alifu atoll. The 21 people from Thinadhoo island who were confirmed dead after Enamaa boat capsized en route to Thinadhoo island in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll from Villingili island in Gaafu Alifu atoll were:

1. Maryam Saeeda, Sweet Mead house, aged 17 years
2. Rashaqa Rashad, Hulhanguge house, aged 20 years
3. Dhonbeefaanu, Dhunburimaage house, aged 49 years
4. Maryam Khaleefa, Ujaalaage house, aged 23 years
5. Naseema Ali, Naseemeege house, aged 55 years
6. Shifqath Shakir, Naseemeege house, aged 2 and half years
7. Fathimath Dheena Fareed, Porridge House, aged 3 and half years
8. Mareena Qasim, Fehivilaage house, aged 55 years
9. Muneera Ismail, Heeraage house, aged 47 years
10. Aisaafaanu, Reehussabaahu house, aged 62 years
11. Khadeeja Hussain “Rekeefaanu”, Heeraage-Dhekunu-bai house, aged 43 years
12. Ameeza Ahmed, Dhunburimaage, aged 18 years
13. Mohamed Raaif Ibrahim, Hulhanguge house, aged 4 years
14. Hamzeel Ahmed, Silver house, aged 17 years
15. Adeel Mohamed, Friendly Beach house, 23 years
16. Ibrahim Rasheed, Night Queen house, aged 38 years
17. Maryam Rasheeda, Sea View house, aged 50 years
18. Moosa Mushaan Munavvar, Grans house, aged 2 years
19. Ahmed Zubair, Thirty Four house, aged 21 years
20. Maryam Mohamed, Vincent house, aged 49 years
21. Zoona Zuhair, Fonimaage, aged 35 years. 

The 2 individuals missing were:

1. Mohamed Aslam, Thirty Four house, 20 years
2. Maryam Shagaf Shakir, Naseemeege, 5 years 

The Enamaa boat incident which is known as the worst sea tragic incident which the nation still mourns after 13 years reminds us to follow the guidelines and rules strictly regarding maritime laws established in the country as a top priority area of focus during sea transport. It also gives us the lesson that our greed & unwholesome desires could blind us to the coming danger until it's too late.