Watch: Typhoon Sinlaku hits Pacific islands with dangerous winds and heavy rain 14:12
The U.S. Coast Guard said on Monday that a capsized boat found near the U.S. territory of Saipan after a typhoon hit it was the missing vessel with six people on board.
The Coast Guard said it was still searching for six people. The capsized boat was first spotted on Saturday. The wreckage included a partially submerged, partially inflated life raft. The Coast Guard said in a news release that it was sighted 95 nautical miles northeast of the ship.
The Coast Guard said an HC-130 Hercules crew from the U.S. Air Force’s 31st Rescue Squadron identified the ship as the cargo ship Mariana on Sunday night. Aircraft deployed rescuers, divers and boats.
“If divers find a viable access point, the team may use an underwater remotely piloted drone to further investigate the vessel,” the release said.
On April 18, 2026, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point flew over an overturned vessel offshore Saipan. /Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Barbers Point Air Station
Coast Guard crews continue to search for six people near the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. So far, guard and partner agencies from Guam, Japan and New Zealand have covered more than 75,000 square nautical miles, the release said.
The Mariana, a 145-foot dry cargo ship registered in the United States, suffered engine failure on Wednesday as a strong typhoon and heavy rains hit Saipan and nearby islands.
The Coast Guard established a one-hour communications plan with the vessel after the crew reported that the vessel had lost its starboard engine and required assistance.
But contact was lost on Thursday. That morning, an HC-130 aircraft took off to conduct a search, but returned to Guam due to strong winds.
The Mariana’s last known position was about 140 miles northwest of Saipan and about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii.
Officials previously said an HC-130 Hercules crew conducted an initial search of the ship Thursday but returned to Guam due to strong winds in the search area.
Typhoon Sinlaku caused flooding in Saipan, tearing off roofs and overturning cars. Officials said the storm’s size meant the island endured roughly 48 hours of high winds, preventing rescuers from assessing damage and helping communities.
The typhoon struck the Northern Mariana Islands of Tinian and Saipan with sustained winds of up to 150 mph, equivalent to Category 4 winds, according to the National Weather Service. Its maximum wind speeds fluctuated after landfall, declining to 125 mph as the storm moved north.
CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan said the typhoon’s maximum sustained winds were steady at 175 mph before making landfall, making it the strongest storm of 2026 behind Typhoons Narel and Duzai, which peaked at 149 mph and 147 mph, respectively.
In a social media video posted by the mayor’s office, cleanup crews could be seen clearing debris amid high winds on Saipan.
The Northern Mariana government on Sunday asked for an expedited major disaster declaration. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday that if approved, it would include aid for survivors and public infrastructure as well as disaster mitigation funds.