6 missing after U.S.-flagged ship found overturned following typhoon
Watch: Typhoon Sinlaku hits Pacific islands with dangerous winds and heavy rain 14:12
An overturned ship was found near the US territory Saipan typhoon The ship that was hit was missing with six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday.
Coast Guard said He was still looking for six. It was stated that the overturned boat was first seen on Saturday. The wreckage included a partially inflated, partially submerged life raft. The ship was spotted 95 nautical miles northeast, the Coast Guard said in a news release.
The crew of HC-130 Hercules aircraft with the U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron confirmed Sunday night that the ship was the cargo ship Mariana, the Coast Guard said. Rescue teams, divers and boats were assigned to the aircraft.
“If divers find a suitable access point, the team can use a remote-controlled drone underwater to further investigate the ship,” the statement said.
A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point flies over an upturned ship off the coast of Saipan, April 18, 2026. / Credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo Courtesy Air Station Barbers Point
Coast Guard air crews continued to search for the six individuals in the vicinity of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. So far, conservation and partner agencies in Guam, Japan and New Zealand have covered more than 75,000 square nautical miles, the statement said.
The US-registered 145-meter dry cargo ship Mariana suffered engine failure on Wednesday as a massive typhoon with high winds and incessant rain hit Saipan and nearby islands.
After the crew reported that the boat’s starboard engine was missing and needed assistance, the Coast Guard established a one-hour communications program with the ship.
However, contact was lost on Thursday. An HC-130 aircraft took off that morning to search, but returned to Guam due to high winds.
Mariana’s last known location was approximately 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan, which is approximately 3,800 miles west of Hawaii.
Authorities it has been said before The crew of the HC-130 Hercules aircraft launched an initial search for the ship on Thursday but returned to Guam due to high winds in the search area.
Typhoon Sinlaku caused flooding in Saipan, blowing off roofs and overturning cars. The magnitude of the storm meant the island endured high winds for nearly 48 hours, delaying responders’ ability to assess damage and assist communities, officials said.
When the typhoon hit the islands of Tinian and Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, it had winds of up to 150 miles per hour, which is a strong Category 4. National Weather Service. Maximum wind speeds fluctuated slightly after landfall and have since dropped to 195 mph as the storm moved north.
CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan said before landfall that the typhoon’s maximum sustained winds were pegged at 175 mph, making it the strongest storm to develop in 2026, following typhoons Narelle and Dudzai, which reached wind speeds of 149 and 147 mph, respectively.
Cleanup crews were seen on social media clearing debris in stormy conditions on Saipan video Sent by the mayor’s office.
The Northern Marianas government requested an expedited major disaster declaration on Sunday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday that if approved, it would include hazard mitigation funding as well as assistance to survivors and public infrastructure.
