Overview:
Authorities have suspended the search for missing Palau fisherman Kailang Asanuma after a seven-day air and sea operation ended with the recovery of his boat southwest of Angaur. Despite extensive efforts by local agencies, state rangers and U.S. Coast Guard aircraft, no sign of Asanuma was found.
By: Summer Kennard
KOROR, Palau (January 8, 2026) — Authorities have suspended the search for local fisherman Kailang Asanuma after seven days of coordinated air and sea operations, following the recovery of his boat 110 miles from Koror, southwest of Angaur, officials said Thursday.
Asanuma was reported missing Jan. 2 after failing to return from a fishing trip that began early Dec. 31, 2025. Family members told the Ministry of Justice that Asanuma informed his niece he would return the following day. When he did not arrive as planned, she filed a missing person report.
Director of Public Safety Curtis Elobt said marine and aerial search assets were deployed the same day the report was received and continued over the following days, covering a wide area of Palauan waters.
“Five Marine Law Enforcement boats were deployed and conducted continuous searches from Friday through the weekend,” Elobt said. “Additional aerial support arrived in the following days to expand the search area.”
On Monday, a P-8 Navy aircraft arrived from Japan to assist alongside the U.S. Coast Guard. Because of limited daylight, the aircraft conducted a brief search before nightfall. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the P-8 carried out about four hours of aerial searching each day, Elobt said.
The P-8 departed Wednesday, and later that day a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 aircraft arrived from Honolulu to continue the search.
“The C-130 located Mr. Asanuma’s boat from the air southwest of Angaur, about 110 miles from Koror around 2 p.m. on Wednesday,” Elobt said. “Unfortunately, Mr. Asanuma was not on the boat.”
Marine patrol boats attempted to reach the vessel Wednesday evening but were unable to do so because of darkness. Early Thursday morning, Marine Law Enforcement officers located the boat and began towing it.
“The patrol boat Remeliik is currently pulling Mr. Asanuma’s boat, with an estimated arrival time of 5 p.m. today,” Elobt said.
Chief of Marine Law Temdik Ngirblekuu said the search covered extensive areas of the country’s waters.
“Since the day we received the report, we covered areas up to 50 miles west of Palau, through the Rock Islands in Koror, down to Angaur, west of Kayangel, and northward as well,” Ngirblekuu said.
Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil said the effort involved state rangers from Ngatpang, Ngarchelong, Koror and Kayangel, as well as private boat operators and members of Asanuma’s family. The Palau Chamber of Commerce, working with the Ministry of Justice, also asked tour operators to remain vigilant during daily operations.
Additional assistance was provided by local aviation companies PM Air and Smile Air.
After locating the boat, the C-130 aircraft deployed buoys to study ocean currents in the area and continued aerial searches through Thursday until sundown.
Officials said the standard five-day search period ended Tuesday, but the family requested two additional days, extending operations through Thursday.
“As of today, the seventh day, the search will be suspended at sundown,” Olegeriil said.