Japanese authorities will continue the search for poet Craig Arnold, missing since April 26 on the Japanese island of Kuchino-erabu, for two additional days, according to the Facebook page administered by the poet's family. The search was extended until at least Tuesday, and Arnold's brother, Chris, recently traveled to the island to assist, as did a group of Fulbright volunteers.
ABC News reported that police have told the family that the poet's footprints were found ascending, but not descending, the path leading to the volcano on Kuchino-erabu, and that the volcano is considered a relatively easy one to climb, earning a rating of two (out of ten) points for difficulty.
Reporting on the blog findcraigarnold.blogspot.com was suspended per the family’s request to direct attention to their Facebook page only. "Right now there is a great deal of information being distributed on the Internet," a note on the page reads. "This Facebook group is the only site associated with Craig's family. We are being fully supported by the U.S. and Japanese government, and it is very important to us that the authorities are able to focus on Craig's search."
In addition to progress updates and links to coverage by news media outlets, the Facebook page also includes information about how to contribute to a fund to support search efforts, established with assistance from the University of Wyoming, where Arnold teaches poetry.
