CEBU, Philippines (11 Nov 2004) -- Search and recovery operations on the missing Japanese diver continue today with a combined force of government and private personnel in the seas off Mactan island. The missing Japanese national, Chihiro Nawa, was one of two divers who left the Pacific Cebu Resort in barangay Basbas, Lapu-Lapu City last Monday at 9pm for scuba diving. The following morning, fishermen found the lifeless body of 25-year-old Masahiro Kajita off barangay Catarman waters, Cordova town. Both Japanese were members of the resort staff from Japan who were asked to come for Cebu to help students in a Japanese course. Probers had initially found that the Japanese's airtank was empty prompting them to speculate that the divers could have ran out of air during their dive. But they are still determining if no foul play was involved. The search and rescue team had to look for Nawa until advised otherwise by the authorities, said resort manager Antonio Bande Jr. | | Bande said the operations will be conducted with members of the Philippine Coast Guard, the Naval Force Central, the SWAB of the Philippine Navy, and volunteers of the various diving shops in Lapu-Lapu City. In yesterday's operation, the resort rented a Cessna plane for rescuers to scour the seawaters from the above while starting today choppers from the Philippine Air Force will also do their share of the work. SOURCE - The Freeman |
