Search team recovers raft but Japanese sisters still missing

A search and rescue team recovered yesterday the inflatable raft that was believed used by two missing Japanese tourists at Wing Beach on Saipan, but the sisters remained unfound.

Police said the U.S. Coast Guard spotted the raft 25 nautical miles north of Banzai Cliff at 8:33am. The Department of Public Safety recovered the deflated raft at 10:21am.

Parents of the missing Japanese sisters Natsuki Yamada and Chinatsu Yamada visit the Wing Beach yesterday, where the two tourists are believed to have used an inflatable raft. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Police identified the missing sisters as Natsuki Yamada, 33, and Chinatsu Yamada, 26.

The victims’ parents arrived from Japan yesterday afternoon and checked in at Mariana Resort and Spa, where their missing daughters also stayed.

The parents visited Wing Beach, which is located near Mariana Resort.

DPS police spokesman Travis Hurst said that based on surveillance footage at Mariana Resort, the Yamada sisters left their hotel room on Sunday at 10:17pm.

On Monday at 12:08pm, the car rented by the sisters was recovered at Wing Beach. Police secured the vehicle, which still had the sisters’ passports and other belongings inside.

At 2:20pm on Monday, police found at the beach the clothing and towels believed to belong to the sisters. Inside the towels were the keys to the rental car, U.S. dollar bills, and articles of clothing.

Also found at the beach were rowing paddles and the pump to inflate a raft.

Hurst said investigators found the box for the raft inside the sisters’ hotel room on Monday.

Hurst said it is believed that the raft was procured in Japan and brought to Saipan.

Along with the sisters’ belongings inside their hotel room were U.S. currency, credit cards, and their suitcases.

Hurst said it is unknown at this time where exactly the sisters are from Japan and what their jobs are.

Hurst said the Japan Consulate has been contacted and it coordinated the travel of the missing tourists’ parents to Saipan.

Hurst said the search is still ongoing.

“Anyone with information into the possible whereabouts of these two sisters is asked to call DPS by dialing 911 or (670) 664-9001,” Hurst said.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is also assisting in the search efforts. The Office of Homeland Security Emergency Management has deployed their resources and assisted in setting up an incident command center. It is also providing logistical support for land and sea crews.

The sisters reportedly arrived on Saipan Saturday morning. They were scheduled to depart on Monday, June 30, at 6am.

Police confirmed with the airline that the two sisters did not check in for their scheduled departure.

The car rental company alerted Mariana Resort when the car was not properly returned on its due date. The hotel then notified DPS about the tourists’ disappearance.