Karachi Fishing Boat Disappears Mysteriously in Open Sea

Karachi July 13 2025 — A fishing boat carrying at least seven local fishermen has mysteriously vanished off the coast of Karachi triggering concern among families and authorities alike The boat which departed from the Ibrahim Hyderi fishing harbor early Saturday morning was expected to return by late evening but failed to arrive raising fears of a maritime disaster

According to initial reports the fishing vessel named Al Mahfooz set sail at approximately 500 am on what was considered a routine deep sea expedition Weather conditions were reported to be calm at the time of departure and there was no prior indication of any technical malfunction in the boat

By nightfall when no communication had been received from the crew families alerted the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency PMSA and the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority A preliminary search operation was launched late Saturday night involving navy personnel local coast guards and other emergency responders

Authorities Initiate Search and Rescue

Speaking to reporters PMSA spokesperson Lt Commander Farhan Siddiqui stated “We have initiated aerial and sea patrols to locate the missing vessel So far there is no debris no signal from any emergency beacons and no distress call was received This is highly unusual especially considering the clear weather conditions”

He added that additional resources including helicopters and satellite monitoring systems have been deployed to expand the search radius which currently stretches over 150 nautical miles into the Arabian Sea

Coastal villagers and fellow fishermen have also joined the efforts hoping to spot any sign of the missing boat or crew Local boat owner and community elder Ghulam Ali said “We are praying for their safe return These men are experienced seafarers If anything happened it must have been sudden and serious”

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Families in Anguish

Back in Ibrahim Hyderi scenes of distress and anxiety have overtaken the fishing neighborhood Families of the missing crew members have gathered at the docks waiting anxiously for updates The wife of one of the missing fishermen tearfully shared “He promised he would be back by sunset My children are waiting for their father We don’t know what to do”

Another woman whose two sons were both on the boat said she hadnt slept in 24 hours “No one has told us anything for sure We just want answers We want them back”

Psychological support teams and local NGOs have been deployed to assist the affected families as search efforts continue

Theories and Speculation

While officials are treating the case with caution some unverified reports have begun circulating regarding the possibility of foul play or piracy However maritime experts and coast guards insist that piracy is rare in Pakistan’s territorial waters and that no evidence currently supports this theory

Other maritime observers have pointed to possible mechanical failure capsizing due to a sudden current or disorientation caused by malfunctioning navigation systems But again without any trace of the vessel or crew nothing can be confirmed

Some have even begun speculating about supernatural or paranormal involvement fueled by stories of cursed waters that sometimes surface among coastal communities Authorities however have dismissed these as folklore

Previous Incidents Raise Concern

This isn’t the first time a fishing vessel has disappeared off Karachi’s coast but the total lack of wreckage or distress signals in this case is particularly disturbing In 2019 a similar incident occurred when a boat with five men went missing for two days but was eventually located near Ormara after engine failure

However the current case appears far more mysterious and alarming due to the complete absence of leads which is rare in the age of GPS tracking and satellite communication

Conclusion

As the search continues into its second day hope is beginning to wane but families and rescuers remain determined The Pakistan Navy and PMSA have pledged to continue their efforts “until every possibility has been exhausted”

For now the disappearance of Al Mahfooz remains an unsettling maritime mystery sending ripples of fear through Karachi’s coastal communities and highlighting the dangers that even routine sea voyages can suddenly present