Dinghy of missing Zakariyya found underwater

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has reported that the dinghy travelled by Zakariyya Mohamed, who went missing while travelling alone in a small dinghy from GDh. Gadhdhoo to the atoll's Gan, has been found during the joint search operation by the military and police.

75-year-old Zakariyya was reported missing on the evening of the 10th of this month. While the search for him is being carried out jointly by the military and police, the MNDF South Region Coast Guard has searched the outer sea area and uninhabited islands near Gan during the operation. The military has searched a large area of 2,307.99 square nautical miles by sea and 30.39 square nautical miles by air to find him. While soldiers from the MNDF Southern Area Command, Coast Guard Fourth Squadron are working in the search operation for Zakariyya, the military stated that they are receiving assistance from the Gadhdhoo Police Station, Gadhdhoo Council, citizens of the island, and fishermen.

Today, MNDF stated that during the second dive conducted jointly by the military and police this morning in the search operation for Zakariyya Mohamed, the dinghy he travelled in was found 10 meters underwater in the channel between GDh. Gadhdhoo and Gan. The Coast Guard described it as a white dinghy with a blue stripe. As Zakariyya has not been found, efforts to locate him are still ongoing.

Zakariyya departed from Gadhdhoo around 09:30 in the morning on the 10th of this month. He was reported missing to the police around 17:05 that evening after no news was heard from him. The police previously stated that when he was last seen, he was wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt and black shorts, and based on investigations so far, information has been received that he departed from Gan around 11:15 in the morning.