Missing US student’s hotel plagued by problems as resort reveals if they’re connected

The Dominican Republic Resort the place pupil Sudiksha Konanki of the College of Pittsburgh was lacking final week skilled an extended energy outage, only a few hours earlier than Konanki disappeared, the resort firm and friends advised Fox Information Digital.

Konanki, a 20-year-old resident of Virginia, was final seen after 4 hours on March 6, apparently on the seashore outdoors the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, in line with the authorities and a flyer that’s unfold on-line.

Lower than two hours earlier than the scholar from the College of Pittsburgh disappeared, energy was restored to the 5 -star, solely grownup RIU Republica, the place she stayed with 5 feminine associates, after a malfunction of about 22 hours.

“[T]The electrical difficulty began on Wednesday [March] 5 at 1 am. However the identical was solved on Thursday [March] 6 at 3 o’clock, so when the friends went to the seashore after 4 hours, the electrical energy was recovered hours in the past. So one has nothing to do with the opposite, “mentioned Riu Motels Fox Information Digital in an announcement, presumably referring to Konanki’s disappearance and the malfunction.

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The seashore space within the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Courtesy d’lani Sweeney)

The Dominican Republic, at present beneath a journey recommendation from the Ministry of Overseas Affairs and shares a restrict with stage 4 Haiti, experiences nearly day by day blackouts in sure areas that may final greater than 10 hours, in line with the OPEC Fund for Worldwide Improvement.

“Our dedication to the nicely -being and luxury of our friends is our precedence, so we’re deeply regretted by the flexibility that influenced the RIU Republica Lodge final week,” mentioned Riu Motels. “From the second that the issue was found, within the early hours of Wednesday 5 March, till it was fully resolved within the early hours of Thursday 6 March, the lodge workforce labored tirelessly to rapidly resolve the issue and to revive all providers that came about in that interval step by step.”

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Sudiksha Konanki on a Fb selfie picture. The 20-year-old College of Pittsburgh Junior has been lacking since 6 March, when she disappeared throughout a spring break to a five-star resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Sudiksha Konanki/Fb)

The mum or dad firm of the lodge added that members of the RIU Republica workers “did their finest to cut back the discomfort generated by this case.

“However, we’re conscious of the discomfort that this occasion has generated for the affected friends. Because of this, RIU has arrange a compensation coverage that applies to all these prospects who course of their declare by way of official channels, both immediately with RIU motels or with the journey supplier with whom they’ve made their reservation, mentioned Riu Motels.

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A walkway within the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Courtesy d’lani Sweeney)

Konanki reportedly walked with a younger man simply earlier than she disappeared, mentioned La Policia Nacional, the nationwide police of the nation, in a translated assertion.

Numerous friends who spoke digitally with Fox Information, expressed their concern in regards to the energy and water failure, in addition to different security issues on the RIU Republica. Numerous latest Google evaluations additionally complain about electrical energy and water issues.

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Army workers are in search of Sudiksha Konanki, a pupil from the College of Pittsburgh from the US who disappeared on a seashore in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photograph/Francesco Spotorno)

“I perceive that it’s spring break, however that is horrible,” mentioned Nick Musca. “The water does not work. There was no energy yesterday. That is horrible.”

D’lani Sweeney described her keep within the Riu Republica as “The Spring Break Journey From Hell” on Tiktok, however famous that the majority staff have been very accommodating and tried to make friends comfy when issues arose.

“The evening she had disappeared was the evening that every thing was a bit happening and was so chaotic.”

– D’lani Sweeney

“Individuals stayed later due to the swimming swimming pools or on the seashore as a result of they did not have AC of their rooms,” Sweeney advised Fox Information Digital. “It was so scorching, and that may be a type of solely manner they may cool or have a … leisure in any respect. It simply makes me somewhat loopy and likewise … unhappy.”

Seveney described using bottled water to brush her enamel in her lodge room and use outlets within the lodge’s foyer or gymnasium to cost her telephone. Because of the energy outage, there was no Wi-Fi service in sure elements of the resort. Individuals with out worldwide phone plans used WiFi to contact folks overseas had problem making contact with associates or household to elucidate the state of affairs, she mentioned.

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

Furthermore, the resort had crimson flags on the seashore to warn vacationers of robust currents and huge waves across the time of the malfunctions.

“There aren’t any lights or lanterns or something on the seashore to alleviate it a bit to assist somebody when they’re on the seashore.”

– D’lani Sweeney

“We might see the seashore, and it was pitch black,” Sbeeney mentioned on the seashore at evening. “We had additionally been to the seashore earlier, even when the ability was on, and there was a small stream of sunshine … So in an influence outage you see nothing in any respect.

“There aren’t any lights or lanterns or one thing on the seashore to light up somewhat to assist somebody when they’re on the seashore. When you go there you possibly can see nothing. The one factor you possibly can see is simply … Pikzwart – perhaps just a few stars within the sky or lights from surrounding resorts additional the seashore.

Outside view of a police station in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Kirill Clark)

A girl who stayed a few week previous to the disappearance of Konanki in Punta Cana in Punta Cana and selected to be recognized by her first title, Weoeser, mentioned the resort usually felt secure, however she had comparable issues with using highly effective gross sales factors and had a wierd expertise in a membership within the resort.

“We have been sitting there on the bar and two boys got here to us. We have been simply speaking,” Woeler advised Fox Information Digital.

One of many males selected to speak with Woesmeser and her buddy with the assistance of Google Translate on his telephone. At one level the buddy of Woesen mentioned it was too loud and went outdoors to get some air. Woesmoezer then began utilizing the toilet.

When she returned to the bar, she forgot that her girlfriend had stepped out and the person requested with Google Translate that she spoke earlier if he knew the place her boyfriend was going.

“On his Google Translate app he mentioned …” Oh, you are alone. You should not be right here. Let’s go to the seashore. “

The seashore space within the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Courtesy: d’lani Sweeney)

Weoeser felt that the comment was “suspicious” and recorded him, however her boyfriend returned earlier than they may say somewhat extra to one another.

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The Sheriff’s Workplace of the FBI and Loudoun County in Virginia are concerned within the seek for the lacking PITT pupil. All associates with whom she traveled are justified.

“The continued investigation contains quite a lot of search efforts, together with an outline of safety video and phone information,” mentioned the Sheriff’s workplace in a Monday press launch. “Interviews additionally proceed with anybody who could have seen or has been lacking earlier than she was lacking. The LCSO has utilized for a yellow notification (international police -alert for a lacking particular person) to be printed by Interpol.”

One report prompt that Konanki drowned within the ocean in Punta Cana after being swept by a big wave. (AP/Francesco Spotorno)

The Sheriff workplace added that “[t]Right here has been a substantial public hypothesis about what occurred to Konanki and whoever is concerned. “

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“We warn that somebody doesn’t draw unused conclusions and are devoted to make sure that an intensive investigation is carried out earlier than conclusions are drawn,” they mentioned in a press launch. “The LCSO is looking forward to the secure return of Sudiksha Konanki, and we’re dedicated to assist this analysis and her household in each attainable manner.”

Authorities ask everybody with data to contact the LCSO on 703-777-1021. To remain nameless, name the Loudoun Crime Solvers on 703-777-1919.