Search ongoing for Singaporean missing after diving incident in Palau: MFA
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Palau, an island nation south-east of the Philippines, is known for outdoor activities including snorkelling and diving.
PHOTO: AFP
SINGAPORE – Search-and-rescue operations are under way for a Singaporean who went missing after a diving incident in Palau on Sept 7, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) liaising with the local authorities.
In a media reply on Sept 9, MFA said it is providing consular assistance to the missing person’s family and is in contact with the Palau authorities over ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the ministry said.
The expedition was organised by Pearl Fleet, a Singapore scuba tour company.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, Pearl Fleet said on Sept 9 that it is “fully cooperating with all official operations”.
“The incident was immediately reported to the authorities, and search and rescue efforts are currently ongoing under the direct command of the Coast Guard,” Pearl Fleet said in its response.
According to its website, Pearl Fleet operates luxury yachts to three destinations: White Pearl in the Maldives, Black Pearl in Palau, and Blue Pearl in Indonesia.
Made up of about 340 islands, islets and atolls, Palau is an island nation south-east of the Philippines known for its clear waters, coral reefs and forests.
The archipelago has a population of around 18,000, largely concentrated in Koror, its former capital and economic centre.
Home to the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon limestone islets, Palau draws intrepid explorers with its variety of outdoor activities, including snorkelling, diving, hiking and wildlife encounters.
Since 2024, China Airlines’ non-stop flights from Taipei to Koror have increased in frequency from twice a week to four or five times a week. In October 2025, United Airlines launched a non-stop route from Tokyo to Koror.
A number of Singapore-based dive operators and travel agencies offer diving trips and packages to the archipelago.
According to official figures published by Palau’s Ministry of Finance, the island nation received 6,963 visitors in July.
