Authorities have begun searching for a man who went missing from a sandbank near Kaafu atoll Huvafenfushi island.
Adhadhu has learnt that the missing man is Thasleem Mohamed, 43, an employee of the Male' City Council.
He went missing on Friday during a trip to the sandbank.
"He went on a trip with friends on Thursday. He gave his bag and phone to some people yesterday [Friday] morning and said he would be back. He has been missing since then," Thasleem's family said.
His family told Adhadhu that a missing person report was submitted to the police and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) on Friday.
The sandbank is quite large and another group of people were also visiting at the same time as Thasleem and his friends.
The MNDF Coast Guard has now searched the area including the sandbank, the family said. However, there has been no sign of Thasleem so far.
Police said a search effort was underway following the missing person report.
"The people who accompanied him on the trip have stated that he was last seen around 10:00 am to 11:00 am yesterday [Friday]," police said.
Police have made a public appeal to contact Himmafushi Police Station at 9794639 for information about Thasleem or if any persons had visited the sandbank on Thursday and Friday.
