A frantic search is underway for a 12-year-old British schoolgirl who vanished while on a family holiday in Japan
A 12-YEAR-OLD British girl has been reported missing in Japan after vanishing on her family holiday, sparking a frantic search operation.
Carmelita Lakdesha Paul arrived in Japan for sightseeing with her parents and older brother on July 21.
Carmelita Lakdesha Paul arrived in Japan for sightseeing with her parents on July 21Credit: ANNnewsCH
Her family said they last saw her when she went to bed at their Tokyo apartmentCredit: Getty
Her family said they last saw her on August 12, at their Tokyo apartment but when they woke up the next morning she was gone.
Carmelita’s father had spoken with her just the night before and said there was nothing suspicious about his daughters behaviour.
Police received a missing persons report from the family at 9.30am on August 13.
Carmelita’s phone was still in the private rental, so the family had no way of contacting their missing daughter.
CCTV footage analysed by cops shows the 12-year-old dressed in a blue sleeveless top, black and white skirt, black pumps and carrying a pink handbag.
She was seen walking in the Nichome section of Kamata, near to where the family were staying, later that morning.
Investigators said she then boarded a train at Kamata station and travelled 20 minutes south to Yokohama Station.
But cops have not been able to trace her movements any further from this point.
Carmelita – described as being 5ft 3in and a medium build with curly black hair – did not take her passport with her when she left the property.
And her family believes she had only a few thousand yen (less than £70) on her.
The small sum would not be enough for an extended stay at a hotel or hostel – heightening the families fears of her safety.
Japan has also been battered by severe rainstorms making proper shelter even more important.
At least eight people have died after record breaking rainfall triggered horror flooding, landslides, power cuts and transport chaos across the countries east.
Residents and tourists fled the devastation, with nearly 7,000 people stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport on Thursday.
Chiba, near Tokyo, has logged more than 100mm (3.9in) of rain per hour since Thursday afternoon – the highest volume ever recorded in the country.
Authorities are urging anyone with information that could help find Carmelita to contact Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Kamata Station.
The Sun has approached the UK foreign office for comment.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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