Casablanca, Morocco — January 30, 2026 — A British family is desperately searching for their seven-year-old daughter after she was swept out to sea in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday night.
A seven-year-old British girl is missing after being swept into the ocean by a wave in Casablanca, Morocco, prompting a search effort involving local authorities and the family.
- Inaayah Makda, from Blackburn, UK, went missing after a wave swept her into the ocean in Casablanca.
- Family members were also caught in the wave but managed to return to shore.
- British authorities and the Moroccan ambassador are being contacted for assistance in the search.
Inaayah Makda, from Blackburn, went missing after a wave suddenly crashed onto rocks and pulled her into the ocean, according to reports from The Independent.
Other family members were also reportedly swept out to sea by the wave, but were able to make it back to shore, The Independent reported.
Zubair Makda, Inaayah’s father, told Blackburn-based UCTV that the family was standing on rocks approximately half a metre high when the incident occurred. He said, “Inaayah was on the rock behind me. We got swept to the right and she got swept to the left. Before that, I did not see where Inaayah was, as she got swept away so quickly.” He added, “I couldn’t find her at all. We are trying to get help.”
Adnan Hussein, the Member of Parliament for Blackburn, stated he is urgently contacting UK authorities, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Moroccan ambassador, according to The Independent. “This is an utterly heartbreaking and deeply distressing situation,” Hussein told The Independent. “In this unimaginably difficult time for the family, my thoughts are with them, with Inaayah, and with everyone who loves and cares for her. The whole of Blackburn is holding Inaayah and her loved ones in their prayers. I will continue to do all that I possibly can to support the family during this devastating time.”
A family member in the UK told the Lancashire Telegraph, “We are all really worried. You can understand this is really distressing for everyone.” They added that the family was unaware of any potential dangers associated with the rocks and were caught off guard by the wave.
Inaayah’s parents remain in Casablanca and are reportedly seeking assistance from a private search operator, The Independent reported.
A spokesperson for the FCDO said, “We are supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Moroccan authorities have been contacted for comment by The Independent.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The Independent and Lancashire Telegraph and added independent context.
