Aerial search launched to find missing tourist

Maldives National Defense Force has launched an aerial search operation to find the tourist who went missing from a diving point off the coast of Fuvahmulah City last Sunday evening.

The missing 45-year-old man was part of the 20-tourist team onboard a safari who dove into the diving point Fuvahmulah Thila at approximately 5:10 pm.

He was reported missing to MNDF’s Southern Area Coastguard Squadron at 6:55 pm after he failed to surface.

The nationality of the missing tourist has not been released.

MNDF reports it had now started aerial surveillance to look for the tourist using Maldivian’s seaplanes.

The tourist was wearing a gray rashguard, a black mask and black fins when he went missing.

Anyone with information regarding the missing tourist has been advised to call the Coastguard toll-free number 191 or telephone numbers 3395981 or 3398898 immediately.

Fuvahmulah Thila lies approximately one mile to the south off the coast of Fuvahmulah City.