Urgent plea as British girl, 12, vanishes on family holiday in Japan

An urgent search is underway for a young British girl who disappeared during a family holiday to Japan.

Concerns have been raised for the welfare of Carmelita Lakdesha Paul after she vanished from the accommodation she was staying in with her parents and older sibling on Thursday (13 August).

Her loved ones woke that morning to find that the 12-year-old had gone AWOL from their lodgings in Tokyo - and that she had left behind her phone and passport.

Police in Japan have issued a public appeal, calling on locals to aid the investigation into Carmelita's disappearance after her family filed a missing persons report.

The youngster is described as having black curly hair, is approximately 160 centimetres (5ft 3ins) tall and of a medium build.

Carmelita Lakdesha Paul, 12, has gone missing in Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department)

She is believed to be wearing a a light blue sleeveless shirt, a black and white checkered skirt, black pumps and carrying a pink handbag.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Carmelita arrived in the country on 21 July with her mother, father and older brother.

The brood were staying in a district known as Ota Ward in the Japanese capital.

Carmelita was last seen leaving the accommodation at approximately 8.30 am on Thursday morning and has not been in contact since, leaving her family frantic with worry.

Police said that the schoolgirl boarded a train at Kamata Station and travelled to Yokohama Station - but officials are unaware of where she went after this 20-minute journey.

Help find Carmelita

Carmelita's phone and passport were reportedly left at the accommodation, while her relatives say she only has up to £70 on her in local currency.

Japanese broadcaster ANN News reported that she was seen on security cameras while travelling by train, but her movements from there remain unknown.

Officials have urged anyone who may have seen Carmelita or are aware of her whereabouts to urgently get in touch with police.

British authorities have also confirmed that they are involved in the investigation related to Carmelita's disappearance.

A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) told the Daily Mail: "We are supporting the family of a British child who has been reported missing in Japan and are in contact with the local authorities."

Cars submerged in floodwater after heavy rain in Oamishirasato (AP/PA Images)

LADbible has approached the FCDO for further comment.

Kamata Police Station said of the 12-year-old's disappearance: "The individual had been staying in Japan for travel since July 21, 2026, but went missing from their accommodation in Minami-Kamata 2-chome, Ota-ku, at approximately 8:30 a.m. on August 13, 2026. If you have any information, please contact the police station listed below or your nearest police station."

The record-breaking rainfall that is currently battering Japan has also heightened fears for Carmelita, as at least five people have died due to the deluge.

Cities east of Tokyo have been flooded, causing serious damage to homes and cars, while some areas have been left without power.

Chiba prefecture officials said the five deaths included a man found floating on a flooded road in Ichikawa city and a woman who had been stuck in a flooded car in Sakura.

Two others were presumed dead after being pulled from flooded cars in the cities of Kashiwa and Chiba. One person remained missing, and more than 30 people were injured, including five seriously, officials said.