An 11-year-old girl identified as Kaliyah Coa is the subject of a search operation after she went missing in the River Thames in east London on Monday.

The incident occurred during a school inset day when Kaliyah entered the water near Bargehouse Causeway, located close to London City Airport.

Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service, the London Fire Brigade, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and the Coastguard, were alerted to the situation at 1:23 PM. The Metropolitan Police have since taken the lead on the recovery mission, focusing their efforts along the Thames in an extensive search operation.

Ch Superintendent Dan Card, who commands local policing in north-east London, expressed condolences to Kaliyah’s family and acknowledged the community’s response to the incident.

"Our specialist officers are supporting Kaliyah’s family through this deeply upsetting time," Card stated.

He confirmed that the police are dedicated to locating the girl, employing drone technology and boats to assist in the recovery efforts.

He also thanked community members and the emergency services for their immediate response to the situation.

Witness accounts from the area provide further details regarding the circumstances surrounding Kaliyah’s disappearance.

Kerry Benadjaoud, a nearby resident, attempted to aid Kaliyah, stating she carried a life ring to the Thames shoreline in a bid to rescue her but did not locate the girl in time.

Another witness noted that children had alerted adults, saying, "my friend’s in the water," as onlookers became aware of the developing emergency.

In the wake of the incident, additional police officers are expected to patrol the area in the coming days as community support continues to be observed.

The tragedy has shocked local residents, many of whom have expressed their concern and solidarity with Kaliyah’s family.