Friday 13 Mar 2026
Mohamed Iqbal has been found safe near a buoy after he was left stranded due to dinghy engine failure. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)
Mohamed Iqbal, a resident of R. Vaadhoo, was reported missing on Thursday night after failing to return from a solo fishing excursion. Following an urgent search operation, a local rescue party discovered Iqbal on Friday morning near a buoy in the vicinity of Alifushi. The fisherman had become stranded at sea due to a mechanical failure in his dinghy's engine. Fortunately, he was found in good health and has since been returned home. Authorities have utilized this incident to reiterate safety concerns regarding the ongoing practice of solo fishing without communication devices.
The Police have confirmed that the man who was reported missing from R. Vaadhoo on Thursday after going out to fish alone has been found.
The man, identified as Mohamed Iqbal, was located safe following an extensive search operation. Authorities received the report of his disappearance at approximately 20:48pm on Thursday night.
According to initial police reports, Iqbal had set out to sea early Thursday morning in a small dinghy and did not have a mobile phone with him.
The Police said on Friday morning that he was found in good health at around 06:53am by a local search party from Vaadhoo that had joined the search. He was located near a buoy close to Alifushi after his dinghy's engine failed, leaving him stranded at sea.
The Maldives Police Service expressed gratitude to members of the public for their cooperation and assistance during the search.
Despite repeated warnings from the Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defence Force advising people not to fish alone, the practice remains common on many islands. There have been several previous cases where individuals who went fishing alone went missing, some of which ended in tragic fatalities.
