Chinese couple missing in Sabah: Phone & Bluetooth earphones' last signal 'deep in the sea'

As the search continues for the two Chinese tourists missing in Sabah, Malaysia, Chinese media have learnt that the last signal detected from one of their phones was in the sea.

The pair, 25-year-old Yu Xiaopeng and 28-year-old Fan Qin, checked into the Sutera Mantanani Resort on Mantanani Island on Oct. 4.

They were supposed to check out the following day and leave Mantanani Island, but "have not been seen since", the director of the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) said on Oct. 7, as quoted by Bernama.

Their belongings were still in the room, he added.

Following a police report filed on the evening of Oct. 5, a search and rescue operation began, involving over 50 personnel from the police, marine police, air operation forces (drone unit), and more agencies.

The Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call for assistance on the morning of Oct. 6, and has deployed firemen and members of its water rescue unit, Bernama reported.

Information from their friends

When China's Hongxing News reached out to a friend of Yu's, he shared that a tablet computer had been found at his home in China.

Using a location-tracking function on the tablet, the friend found that the last signal of Yu's mobile phone and one of his Bluetooth earphones were recorded "deep in the sea", Global Times reported.

The left earphone was last detected on land, near the edge of the sea.

This friend also recalled Yu saying that he might go snorkelling and paddle-boarding, among other activities, while he was in Sabah on Oct. 4, Global Times reported, citing Hongxing News.

A woman who claimed to be a close friend of Fan shared a photo with Malaysia's China Press that allegedly captured the couple in the background, walking along the shallow waters at a beach.

The photo was taken around 4pm on Oct. 4, the friend said, adding that the man was wearing a shirt and jeans, while the woman was wearing a black swimsuit.

The families of both Yu and Fan agreed that the two people in the photo resembled the missing pair, China Press reported.

According to the friend, around half an hour after the photo was taken, eyewitnesses saw Yu changing into a black diving suit and holding a snorkel in his hand.

Furthermore, the friend said she received a message online from someone who claimed they saw the pair snorkelling in the sea.

After a sudden storm broke out, they did not return to shore, the supposed eyewitness said.

However, this person was unable to provide any evidence in the form of photos or videos.

Top images from Hongxing News and Chinese media