Missing American vanished amid unpredictable currents, unprotected area of beach

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – It’s recognized of unpredictable actions that they affect the idyllic resort the place scholar Sudiksha Konanki of the College of Pittsburgh was final seen earlier than he disappeared within the Dominican Republic final week.

Her final recognized residence arrived within the early hours of March 6, on the best way to the seaside within the 5 -star RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana.

All others who go to the seaside along with her is justified. She by no means returned.

The resort has been flying with pink flags for days – which signifies robust currents and enormous waves.

American scholar Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance in Dominican Republic: Timeline

Native authorities are on the lookout for the lacking of the American scholar Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday 11 March 2025. Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seaside outdoors the 5 -star RIU Republica Republica Reping Resort within the Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

Even when the inexperienced flag is up – secure waters – the situations can change with out warning, based on Yuri, a neighborhood captain of the constitution boat.

“Within the Caribbean, the wind instantly comes,” he advised Fox Information Digital. “You should all the time be vigilant.”

Lots of the seashores have put in the web put in to maintain swimmers secure and to maintain floating seagrass out. Nonetheless, components of the seaside are unprotected, together with totally different components of the seaside behind the RIU.

There may be additionally a coral reef that extends alongside the Punta Cana seaside that ends close to the resort seaside, which makes stronger currents doable, Yuri stated. Sharks are uncommon within the space, however not unparalleled, he added. Through the day they’re most likely afraid of the sound of motor boats. However the boats are usually not energetic at night time.

Authorities should take a look at the one that was final seen with lacking scholar Sudiksha Konanki, says Holloway Investigator

Native authorities take part within the seek for Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday 11 March 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

The currents are additionally unpredictable, specialists say.

“Punta Cana is positioned on the Mona Passage, which connects the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico,” Fox defined climate meteorologist and producer of digital content material Andrew Wulfeck, who examined cheers from the time of Konanki’s disappearance.

“As standard, the place two waterways meet, the swell may be irregular and troublesome to foretell, in contrast to the extra predictable patterns which are usually seen on seashores alongside the American east coast.”

Lodge -Horror tales seem after the American scholar is lacking as a result of Resort doesn’t make a connection

Individuals on the seaside of the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday 11 March 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

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Due to the predictability of the shoreline of mainland the USA, he stated, the authorities know that if somebody is washed away, they may often be worn north.

“Sadly for the authorities on the island of Hispaniola, the irregular nature of the waves implies that it’s unimaginable to foretell the place objects can rinse, in order that the necessity for raised vigilance of all beachgoers is required,” Wulfeck stated.

On the morning of Konanki’s disappearance, the swellings got here between 4 and 6 ft from the north and east, he stated. Within the following days, nevertheless, they shifted to the east and south.

Authorities urge the general public to attract non -conclusions whereas the investigation unfolds. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

“As an example she was entangled in a RIP stream, for instance, she might have been towed away after which the present might have introduced her someplace else,” he stated. “A close-by buoy within the Mona passage signifies that the water temperatures are within the low to mid-80s, who can assist assist an individual who could have been stranded on a flotation machine with out the specter of rapid hypothermia.”

Though early reviews prompt that she may need drowned, specialists say they imagine that she would have been washed ashore or would have been discovered now if that was the case. Authorities formally urge the general public to not appeal to conclusions whereas the investigation unfolds.

Beth Holloway identifies an necessary distinction between Sudiksha Konanki case and that of her daughter

They’ve recognized and interrogated an individual of curiosity within the case, an American scholar who was the final one who was given the morning with Konanki that she disappeared, but it surely was not thought-about a felony subject. It’s presently an investigation right into a lacking particular person.

Konanki, a junior on the College of Pittsburgh comes from Loudoun County, Virginia, was final seen on safety pictures that ran to the seaside round 4:15 am, she was with a bunch of younger individuals, together with 5 feminine associates and two younger males, considered one of whom is taken into account an individual of curiosity within the enterprise. That they had drunk within the resort bar.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, from Virginia, disappeared in Punta Cana. (Handout, Hyperlinks and Defensa Civil Dominicana, proper.)

The classmates and one other man had been returned to the resort round 6 am

Hours later one other man, who was imagined to be necessary the particular person, solely returned. Konanki is now not seen.

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Her associates reported that she was lacking round 4 p.m.

The police have spent days looking for the shoreline with boats, diving groups and helicopters. The FBI is concerned and the sheriff of her hometown in Virginia stated he would ship two detectives to assist with the analysis.

Fox Information’ Audrey Conklin and Stepheny Value have contributed to this report.