It was the early morning of April 2nd when panic took over the sea. A cargo boat en route from Laamu Maavah caught fire mid-journey, sending passengers scrambling for their lives. In the chaos, one name echoed across the water—Ali Mushfiq, 25 years old, missing in the aftermath.

Social media videos from that dreadful night show the frantic rescue: survivors being pulled aboard, the crackle of flames in the background, and voices shouting, “Is everyone accounted for?” That’s when reality hit. Mushfiq was not among the rescued.

Without wasting a moment, rescuers climbed into a small dinghy and made their way dangerously close to the burning vessel. They searched the dark, smoky waters—calling his name, scanning every direction. But Mushfiq had vanished.

Witnesses say he jumped into the sea to escape the flames, but in the panic, someone else grabbed his life jacket. His younger brother tried desperately to save him, but the waves had already taken him.

The MNDF Coast Guard has been conducting search operations ever since, covering the area by sea and air. But as each day passes, the hopes of finding Mushfiq grow heavier.

Back in Maavah, the mood is one of sorrow and prayer. Mushfiq wasn’t just a name—he was a symbol of humility, faith, and leadership. A Quran recitation champion, the one who led prayers in the island’s largest mosque. A role model. The sea took him, but the Maldives hasn't stopped looking—or praying.