Updated – Saturday 1:30am: Police have confirmed the discovery of two bodies, believed to be those of missing tourists Leannedra Kang and Takahiro Toya, near a crashed vehicle in northeast Tasmania.
Earlier: Two young Brisbane tourists have vanished while holidaying in Tasmania, prompting a police search after they missed their flight home and went silent on social media.
Leannedra Kang and Takahiro Toya, both in their 20s, were meant to fly from Launceston to Brisbane on Wednesday but never showed up at the airport or returned their rental car.
The pair had been exploring Tasmania in recent days and are thought to have most recently visited the St Helens and Scamander area on the state’s east coast.
They were driving a white Toyota Corolla with the registration L67GW.
Tasmania Police opened an investigation this week after a missing persons report was filed, with growing concern from the couple’s families.
“At this stage, the last confirmed movements of Leannedra and Takahiro is when they departed accommodation in North Hobart on June 3,” police said.
“From there they had planned to travel to Richmond, Ross, Bicheno, Bay of Fires and Mole Creek.”
Kang’s sister Cassandra said it was totally out of character for her not to be in contact. She described Leannedra as someone who is usually very active on social media.
Kang had been regularly sharing updates during their trip until she suddenly went quiet on Tuesday afternoon, raising alarm bells for her loved ones.
Her family believes her last known location was near Goshen.
Police are urging anyone who may have seen the couple or their white Toyota Corolla to come forward.
