US Coast Guard Searches for 6 Missing Crew Off Guam

HAGATNA, Guam - The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search for six crew members aboard a disabled dry cargo vessel after losing contact with the boat off Guam's coast in the wake of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

The 145-foot Mariana notified the Coast Guard on April 15 that it had lost its starboard engine and required assistance, according to Private Third Class Avery Tibbets. Communications ceased the following afternoon, prompting the deployment of an HC-130 Hercules aircraft to locate the six people on board. Heavy winds forced the plane to return to Guam, but search operations were set to resume at first light on Saturday, Tibbets said.

The incident occurred as Super Typhoon Sinlaku ravaged the region earlier in the week. The storm struck the Northern Mariana Islands, inflicting significant damage on Tinian and Saipan, including structural destruction and power outages. Guam, home to several U.S. military installations, experienced flash flooding that disrupted roads and utilities. Winds exceeding 150 miles per hour and torrential rains left thousands without power and prompted widespread evacuations.

Federal agencies coordinated a robust response to the typhoon's aftermath. The...