Search crews have recovered one of six missing crew members on board a U.S.-flagged cargo ship that overturned in the Pacific Ocean during a typhoon, maritime officials announced on April 22.
The vessel Mariana, a 145-foot dry cargo ship registered in the U.S., suffered engine failure when Typhoon Sinlaku slammed down in the Mariana Islands, a chain that includes the Northern Marianas and Guam, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
According to an earlier news release, on April 15 the U.S. Coast Guard received a report the ship had experienced engine failure about 140 miles north-northwest of the North Mariana Islands.
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The vessel reportedly had been in contact with the Coast Guard, but lost communication with the agency later that day.
Just after 5 p.m. local time on April 20, U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron divers recovered the body of one of the missing crew members during dive operations, the agency reported.
“Our hearts are with the families of the Mariana crew members and the communities impacted by this tragic incident,” Cmdr. Preston Hieb, search and rescue mission coordinator with the Coast Guard Oceania District released in a statement. “We continue to search in close coordination with our partners, using all available resources to support the ongoing response.”
The Coast Guard did not identify the victim or name the missing crew members.
Crews continue to search for 5 missing crew members
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, air crews on April 22 continued to search for the missing crew members and for a missing orange 12-person life raft.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu at 1-800-331-6176.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Body found, 5 crew members still missing after US cargo ship overturns
