The search for a Japanese woman, feared drowned off the Clare coast, will continue through the weekend at least before the operation will be wound down.
The intensive multi-agency search will enter it’s twelfth day today but has been gradually sacled back in recent days with still no further trace of Ushio Azaki (61).
The body of her partner, Eiji Takagi (63), was found last Sunday in about 27m (88ft) of water near George’s Head by divers from Kilkee Sub Aqua Club.
The pair were last seen a fortnight ago today after they parked their rental car at Byrnes Cove in Kilkee. However, gardaí were only contacted about the vehicle three days later when it was noticed that it hadn’t been moved in several days.
It’s believed the couple had gone for a walk along the picturesque cliffs walks at Georges Head and Chimney Bay when tragedy struck. While still not clear what happened to the pair, there has been speculation that they may have climbed down onto rocks below the cliffs and were washed into the sea.
Last weekend, the search was intensified when Irish Coast Guard units from Kilkee, Doolin and Ballybunnion in Kerry were joined by Civil Defence teams from Clare, Dublin, Laois and Tipperary.
Drone technology and specially trained cadaver dogs were also used for the first time in Co Clare last weekend.
On Monday, a shoe believed to belong to Ms Azaki, was found washed up on the beach at Kilkee by local authority workers.
Members of the Naval Service Diving Section arrived in Clare on Monday and carried out several searches a day until Thursday before standing down.
Despite over a week of underwater searches by members of the Naval service and several local sub aqua clubs, no further trace of the missing woman has been found.
Kilkee Coast Guard officer in charge Martony Vaughan said: “The operation has been scaled back but we will continue to carry out low water searches over the weekend. Diving has not finished but we will continued to carry out lower water and surface searches if the sea conditions allow. We are very grateful to the Naval Service and all the voluntary groups and dive clubs who have been involved in the search.”