Seven tourists missing in Bali scuba diving trip

Seven Japanese tourists went missing after leaving for a scuba diving trip in waters off the Indonesian island of Bali on Saturday.

The group disappeared after heading out on a speedboat to Nusa Lembongan, a small island off the southeast coast of the popular resort isle, a Bali police spokesman told AFP.

Local police chief Nyoman Suarsika told The Guardian: "The weather was extreme at the time. The wind was strong with heavy rain."

All seven are women and were named as Ritsuko Miyata, 59, Emi Yamamoto, 33, Nahomi Tomita, 28, Aya Morizono, 27, Atsumi Yoshinobe, 29, Shoko Takahashi, 29, and Saori Furukawa, 27.

"A helicopter was deployed ... to spot victims who might be floating in the water. We have still not found any," Bali search and rescue agency chief Didi Hamzar told AFP.

"We are putting our best efforts and hopefully we can find them in safe conditions," he added.

Japanese government officials said the group were experienced divers and had previously completed 50 dive trips.

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