Previous Story
Still no trace of two missing Japanese sisters
Search and rescue team continued their efforts to locate the missing two Japanese sisters during the entire weekend on Saipan, but found no trace of the victims.
“There’s no new development yet. We’re still doing the search,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero told Saipan Tribune yesterday.
This July 3, 2014, file photos shows Gov. Eloy S. Inos explaining the government’s efforts in locating the missing Japanese sisters at a news briefing held at Tanapag Beach. To the governor’s left are CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management special assistant Marvin Seman and Lt. Ken McCain of the U.S. Coast Guard. To the governor’s right are a Japanese interpreter and Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Deleon Guerrero. (Ferdie de la Torre)
Chinatsu Yamada, 26, and Natsuki Yamada, 33, were reported missing since Monday, June 30, when their rental car was recovered at Wing Beach. The two stayed at the nearby Mariana Resort and Spa. They were supposed to fly back to Japan that same Monday.
Deleon Guerrero said that only an aerial search was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy on Friday but there was no water search because of an incoming storm.
The commissioner said the search resumed on Saturday and yesterday.
He said he learned that the U.S. Coast Guard’s last day was on Saturday, but he has to confirm the information with CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management special assistant Marvin Seman.
A separate U.S, Coast Guard statement on Saturday said that it has suspended its search efforts for the two Japanese tourists.
“Coast Guard Sector Guam has suspended search efforts for the two Japanese tourists, after five days of searching. The five-day search covered 8,100 square nautical miles and 154 hours. Responding assets included four aircraft, three helicopters, two ships, two small boats, three jet-skis, and divers,” the statement said.
Deleon Guerrero said that Boating Safety Unit personnel led the search yesterday.
DPS will hold a news briefing about the search today, Monday, at 10am.
