Police officers and search and rescue volunteers have been searching all night for a missing teenager and are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.
Eighteen-year-old student Kirati Singkhampong was last seen around 6pm last night at a house in Palmerston North. Extended family members who were also at the house, popped out for an hour and on their return at 7pm found Kirati missing. There are serious concerns about her current state of mind which have been heightened by the fact that she has not been seen all night.
Kirati originates from Bangkok but has extended New Zealand family members at a number of addresses in Palmerston North. She has been in the country for about 3 months staying with those family members and attending Awatapu College.
All known addresses have been checked out, and areas known to favoured by her have also been searched. These include the bridle track that she walks to get to the college and the kindergarten park area at the junction of Churchill Avenue and Franklin Avenue. The river is also being searched.
Kirati is described as 158cm tall, slim build with long black hair past her shoulders. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans, black jacket and tartan scarf.
Incident Controller Constable Kevin Dalzell said: "We have been told that Kirati has become increasingly withdrawn from her friends over the last couple of weeks. She left without taking her phone which is highly unusual, and she has no access to money. It was a very cold night and everything we are being told suggests she is in a very poor state of mind, quite possibly suicidal."
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.