Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic – The unpredictable trend is known to affect the idyllic resort where University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Conanki was last seen before disappearing in the Dominican Republic last week.
Her last known location came early on March 6th and headed to the beach at the 5-star RIU Republica resort in Punta Cana.
Everyone else has been described to see her go to the beach with her. She never returned.
The resort has been flying red flags for days. It shows strong currents and large waves.
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Local authorities searched for student Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Conanki, 20, was last seen on March 6th on the beach outside the five-star RIU Republica resort in the Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
According to Yuri, the captain of a local charter boat, the condition could change without warning even if a green flag is awake.
“In the Caribbean, there's a sudden wind coming,” he told Fox News Digital. “You have to be on your guard at all times.”
Many beaches have nets installed to keep swimmers safe and eliminate floating seagrass. However, some of the beaches are not protected. This includes several sections of the beach behind Riu.
There are also coral reefs that stretch along Punta Cana Beach, which ends near the hotel's beachfront, allowing for stronger currents, Yuri said. Sharks are rare in the area, but not unheard of, he added. During the day, they are probably afraid of the sound of motorboats. However, the boat is not active at night.
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Local authorities will take part in the search for Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
The current is also unpredictable, experts say.
“Punta Cana is located in the Mona Aisle and connects the Atlantic Ocean between the Caribbean Sea and the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.” Fox Meteorologist Digital content producer Andrew Wulfeck has looked into coastal records since the time of Conanki's loss.
“Unlike the more predictable patterns common on beaches along the East Coast of the US, as is the commonplace where the two waterways meet, swells can be volatile and difficult to predict.”
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People on the beach at RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
Due to the predictability of the coastline of the US mainland, authorities know that if someone is washed away, they will usually be transported north, he said.
“Unfortunately, for Hispaniola Island authorities, the unstable nature of the expansion there means it is impossible to predict where items will wash and flow, and requires the need for vigilance from all beach fans,” Wolfeck said.
On the morning of Conanki's disappearance, swells of 4 to 6 feet came from the north and east, he said. But the next day they moved east and south.
Authorities are urging the public not to jump to conclusions as the investigation unfolds. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
“Let's say, for example, she might have been caught in a rift and she might have been dragged over, and the electric current could carry her somewhere else,” he said. “The buoys near the Mona passageway indicate water temperatures in the mid- to mid-80's, which will help support those who may be left behind in the flotation device without the threat of immediate hypothermia.”
Early reports say she may have owned, but experts say she believes she has washed her tragedy or, if so, she has been discovered by now. Authorities have officially urged the public not to jump to conclusions when the investigation unfolds.
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They identified and questioned Conanki and the last American college student she was seen in the morning she disappeared, but it was not considered a criminal matter. Currently, we are investigating missing people.
Conanki, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh from Loudoun County, Virginia, was last seen in security footage walking towards the beach around 4:15am. They were drinking at the hotel bar.
Sudiksha Conanki, 20 years old from Virginia, disappeared in Punta Cana. (handouts, left, and Defensive Citizen Dominicana, right.)
A classmate and another man were seen returning to the hotel around 6am.
A few hours later, another man, believed to be an interested person, returned by himself. Conanki was never seen again.
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Her friend reported missing around 4pm
Police have spent days searching the coastline by boat, diving team and helicopter. The FBI is involved and the sheriff in Virginia's hometown said they would send two detectives to help with the investigation.
Audrey Conklin and Steveney Price from Fox News contributed to this report.
