Search for missing fisherman Yoosuf still underway

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said the search operation to find the fisherman Yoosuf Ibrahim, who went missing while on a fishing trip alone on Saturday, is still underway.

While MNDF said their search operation for Yoosuf, from Alifu Dhaalu atoll Dhangethi, is still underway, they did not disclose any additional details.

MNDF said on Monday they had started the search for Yoosuf on Sunday, after he was last seen going fishing on a small boat. They have conducted dive searches, surface searches, in addition to air searches to find him, they said.

The dives were conducted with the assistance of divers from MNDF Malé Area Command and Coast Guard Second Squadron, along with three local divers from Dhangethi.

According to the MNDF, the diving teams had surveyed an area of 78,850 square meters of land until Monday. Additionally, they reported surveying an area of 156.87 square nautical miles aboard the MNDF Dornier aircraft.

Yoosuf, 68, set out for fishing in a small boat in the early hours of Saturday. He was reported missing that afternoon, and there has been no news of him since. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt.