Three missing at sea

POMIO – A search operation is underway after a boat capsized off the coast of Duke of York Islands in the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea.

One woman died and her body has been recovered, while three others are still missing at sea.

The boat was carrying passengers bound for a funeral service on Duke of York Islands when it ran into rough seas.

A team from the provincial disaster office searching between the Kokopo and Namatanai waters for the three missing persons still lost at sea.

The three people still missing are an elderly man and his seven-year-old grandson whose mother died in the tragedy.

The third missing person’s identity still remains unknown.

“The first wave struck the boat and overturned a few seconds later, the second wave hit the boat again, and separated the passengers who were already drifted apart,” Olga Torliu, a relative of the deceased women, said.

Strong winds and rough seas have been experienced in the province over the last five days.

Stern warnings have been issued by the provincial disaster office cautioning seafarers to avoid travelling by sea between Kokopo and the outer islands until the weather improves.