Multi-agency search underway for two missing tourists near Saipan

The U.S. Coast Guard, Saipan Department of Public Safety, Air Force 69 Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and Naval Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two-Five are searching Tuesday for two Japanese nationals off northwestern Saipan within the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Guam received a report from the Saipan Department of Public Safety regarding two Japanese women who were reported missing near Onward Beach on Monday. The missing women are reported to be 33 and 26 years old.

They were reported to have purchased an inflatable pool raft for use on the beach. The last confirmed contact with the women was on Sunday, according to the Coast Guard.

Local authorities located their rental vehicle near Onward Beach and the items found in the vehicle indicated that the women had not returned to the car and were still at the beach.

The Coast Guard Cutter Assateague, a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Honolulu, two small boat crews and a jet-ski from Saipan Department of Public Safety, two MH-60 helicopter crews from HSC-25, one B-52 aircrew from Air Force 69 Expeditionary Bomb Squadron have been launched to search for the missing women.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Guam at (671) 355-4824.