Curacao – The DNA research by the Netherlands forensic institute confirmed that blood traces found on clothing and beach of Curacao belong to missing US vice consul James Hogan.

The United States said Thursday it has been searching for the US vice consul in the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao since his wife reported him missing last Friday.

The local authorities announced that a mobile telephone had been found in the sea.

The search for James Hogan involves the US embassy in Curacao, US diplomatic security, the authorities there as well as the US Navy and the Dutch Royal Navy, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.

"Vice Consul James Hogan left his residence late last Thursday, on Thursday night, and, unfortunately, hasn't been heard from since," Kelly said.

"I believe his wife reported his disappearance on Friday. And since then, the embassy and diplomatic security has been working closely with the authorities in Curacao to locate Mr Hogan," he added.

He said he did not know whether there was a criminal dimension to the case.

"Of course, we're extremely concerned, as is his family, that we have no information," Kelly said.

A State Department official said later on the condition of anonymity that Hogan "told his wife 'I'm going to go for a walk,' and didn't bring anything with him. It's worrisome. It looked like he was really going for a walk."

The case is inevitably being compared to that of US teenager Natalee Holloway, who disappeared on the Antillean island of Aruba in 2005.

Despite years of searching, no trace of her has been found and no one has been charged in connection with her disappearance.

AFP / Radio Netherlands / Expatica