Eleven people missing at sea in Papua New Guinea

About 11 people are reportedly missing at sea in Papua New Guinea. PNG Police and government officers have  launched a search  for the missing people. It was reported that the 11 people, including three children went missing at sea since Tuesday last week.

Acting director for the disaster and emergency office Rudolf Mongalee told the National Newspaper that  the 11 had left Baluan Island in a dinghy and were expected to arrive on Pana Island outside Madang town the following day, Wednesday, December 30.

“They were travelling in a 23ft dinghy powered by two 40hp engines. Eight were adults and three were children,” he said. 

Relatives reported the matter to the disaster and emergency office after the 11 failed to arrive. A relative said he noticed one “missed call” from the mobile phone of one of the missing people last Sunday.

Mongalee said one of the relatives contacted the disaster office last Friday. 

The search and rescue operation was organised on Monday.

Mongalee said he contacted the Maritime Search and Rescue Centre on Monday to ask Digicel if they could trace the latest call and identify the signal zone to assist the search and rescue operation.

Mongalee said he also made arrangements with the national disaster office to make funds available for an aerial search.

Arrangements were also done yesterday to send Madang police officers out to sea.

“They may be drifting towards Wuvulu Island but we will check the flow of tides starting from the time they went missing with assistance of the National Marine Safety Authority,” he said.

The National Weather Service has warned people to heed weather updates and warnings before travelling to sea.

This is because of the current weather conditions.

The National