Search Continues for Missing Crew Members After Typhoon Incident

Wed Apr 22 2026 12:27:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The U.S. Coast Guard has recovered one body from a cargo ship that tipped over during Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Five crew members remain missing as search operations intensify in the Northern Mariana Islands.

U.S. Coast Guard divers have recovered the body of one crew member from the sunken cargo ship, Mariana, which capsized during Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Despite extensive search efforts across 99,000 square miles, five crew members are still missing. Authorities continue a coordinated operation with agencies from Guam, Japan, and New Zealand, trying to locate the missing individuals and an inflatable life raft. The tragedy unfolds as heavy winds posed challenges to initial search efforts following the storm's rampage through the region.

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Authorities have found the body of one of the six missing crew members from a cargo ship that overturned near the Northern Mariana Islands during a typhoon.

U.S. Air Force divers utilized an underwater remotely operated drone to investigate the vessel's interior, leading to the recovery of the body on Tuesday, as confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard.

In a continued search operation, additional divers from the Japan Coast Guard examined the overturned ship but did not find any other crew members. Coast Guard aircrews continue to search for the five missing crewmen and an orange 12-person life raft in the vicinity of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, stated the Coast Guard's news release.

The Coast Guard, along with agencies from Guam, Japan, and New Zealand, has covered over 99,000 square miles (256,000 square kilometers) during the search efforts this week.

The vessel, named the Mariana, had indicated to the U.S. Coast Guard on April 15 that it was experiencing mechanical difficulties, losing its starboard engine during Super Typhoon Sinlaku, before losing contact the following day.

“Our hearts are with the families of the Mariana crew members and the communities impacted by this tragic incident,” said Cmdr. Preston Hieb, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard Oceania District. He added that search efforts continue to be augmented with available resources.

Heavy wind initially complicated the search, but the vessel was eventually located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Pagan, an island in the Northern Marianas territory.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that debris, including a partially submerged inflatable life raft, has also been spotted approximately 110 miles (177 kilometers) from the vessel.

Super Typhoon Sinlaku wreaked havoc on the Northern Mariana Islands, leading to significant wind damage and flooding across the region.