Sudiksha Konanki was likely only on beach when vanished because of a power outage that also disabled some security systems: report

University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki was likely only on the beach where she went missing because of a power outage at her Dominican Public resort — one that also disabled some security systems and cameras, according to a report.The power went out at Riu República Hotel into the early hours of March 6, the day Konanki, 20, with many guests — including Konanki and her friends — leaving the darkened Punta Cana hotel for the beach, Dominican Today reported.Because the beach area is usually off-limits at night, it meant it was unsupervised — and the outage also disrupted lighting, security systems and surveillance cameras, the local outlet said.The power was still out around 4 a.m., the time that Konanki was last seen walking along the beach with a group of pals.

She was also pictured with her arm around a man in the last known image of her before she vanished.She had been with six other people on the beach Wednesday before most of the group called it a night, leaving her on the sand alone with Joshua Steven Ribe, a fellow guest at the Caribbean resort who gave cops conflicting stories about what transpired when it was just the two of them on the beach.Police have not said if they suspect foul play.

The FBI joined in on the search on Tuesday.Dominican President Luis Abinader said he was “concerned” about the situation. “All government agencies are searching … because the latest information we have from one of them, from the last person who was with the young woman, what he says according to the reports is that a wave, while on the beach, crashed into them,” he said Monday during his weekly meeting with the press.Dominican authorities have speculated that the pre-med student likely drowned after jumping into the ocean in a brown bikini, while her father has called to expand search efforts over his “growing suspicion” she was kidnapped. ...