The boys refused when Ibrahim asked them “let’s go to Undoodhu [an uninhabited island], we will tow [the canoe].”
Ibrahim and his crew needed the island office’s permission to enter the island’s woods. A few minutes to 7am, the island office official looked out to see if anyone else was coming and saw the boys on the canoe halfway through the islands.
Ibrahim left the island some two hours later around 9am. The crew also left the island later but the boys were nowhere to be seen.
As is customary in most islands of the Maldives, Hulhudhuffaaru children also go out to the sea for fishing on their own from seven-eight years of age.
Back in the island, a crisis turned up for two families. Dhiyaana/White Rose and Sameera/Fasaana were concerned because their precious children did not return for breakfast.
The disappearance of his nephew and two other children came to Ibrahim’s attention later on Saturday afternoon.
“My child came to me and said that sister Dhiyaana came looking for Ali Ashraf. I went out to look for him. I did not know where he was,” Ibrahim told Haveeru.
Some islanders reported seeing the boys leaving the island on the canoe with fishing lines and bait.
Assistant Island Chief Mohamed Zahir said no sign of the boys was seen since they left the island Saturday. A capsized canoe similar to the one missing with the three children was found Sunday.
“A boat looking for the children called around 11am today [Sunday] and reported seeing something that looks like a canoe. One of our speedboats arrived at the location and found that it was a blue-white canoe. It was capsized when we found it 1.5 nautical miles off Lhaviyani atoll Hinnavaru. But no [sign of the] children was found,” Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) spokesperson, Lieutenant Abdulla Ali said.
Zahir said strong gusts and rough seas were observed when the boys left the island.
“Children of their age usually go out to sea on their own for fishing. Every child of that age knows how to swim. They even go out to anchored boats on small boats, canoes and even surf boards. They go out for fishing. No one gave much attention because it was usual,” Ibrahim said.
Mother of six, Sameera was mentally struck due to the sudden loss of her two youngest children.
“The children’s mother was mentally struck. She does not even know what she is saying. Does not know what is going on. She does not talk. She cannot do anything. She does not eat. She would sit alone and suddenly call out to her youngest son for breakfast. She even tries to go out to look for her son,” Zahir said.
The father is in banishment, he added.
Adam noted that Ashraf’s father was at Kaafu atoll Huraa for yellow fin tuna fishery when the incident happened. When he heard of the loss, he was stricken and admitted at Huraa Hospital but was later discharged and came back to Hulhudhuffaaru Sunday morning.
According to islanders, Dhiyaana and her husband Saud are in a serious condition.
MNDF stressed that police, armed forces and the islanders are still searching for the missing children. Divers also searched nearby areas Sunday, the armed forces added.
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