PNG Police widen search as 27 remain missing off East New Britain coast

Boat believed to be  capsized /Police media

A major search operation is continuing in PNG's East New Britain Province as authorities race against time to locate 27 people who disappeared at sea near Pigeon Island over the weekend.

Police, emergency officials and aviation crews have expanded the operation across coastal waters, deploying patrol vessels, rescue boats and aircraft while investigators work to determine what led to the incident.

 

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) said the group was reported missing on Saturday, July 18. Among those unaccounted for are four employees of the East New Britain Provincial Health Authority, along with their relatives and friends.

Police said the missing group consists of 14 adults, 11 children and two other adult males.

The search began after a ward member from the Duke of York Local Level Government alerted the Provincial Disaster Office at 4.51pm on Saturday that several boats had capsized near Pigeon Island.

Emergency teams carried out an immediate search, but no survivors were found during the initial operation.

East New Britain Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Amanda Kates said Police Patrol Vessel Manning and an RPNGC 90-horsepower police boat were deployed on Sunday and have remained engaged in daily search efforts.

She said police have also launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

Two men believed to have been operating the boats managed to reach the mainland and were located by police on Sunday. They were taken to Kokopo Police Station, where they are assisting investigators.

The search intensified again on Tuesday after Manolos Aviation joined the operation, conducting aerial sweeps over identified search zones.

Superintendent Kates also acknowledged the assistance provided by R & M Marine Services Limited in supporting the deployment of Police Patrol Vessel Manning.

"Their contribution has been extremely valuable and is greatly appreciated by everyone involved in the search operation," she said.

She also urged the public to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information, asking people to rely only on official updates because of the sensitive nature of the incident.

Meanwhile, the search for passengers from two boats that disappeared while travelling from Pigeon Island to Kokopo has entered its third day, with search teams locating an overturned boat near New Ireland yesterday. Police Commissioner David Manning said the vessel was spotted by a helicopter at about 12.11pm during an aerial search of the area. However, he said authorities have not yet confirmed whether the overturned boat is one of the vessels carrying the missing passengers, and investigations are continuing as search operations intensify.