By LUTHER SCAT LAMANG
A four-year-old child was rescued off the coast of East New Britain province while three people are missing, believed dead, after the boat they were travelling in capsized in rough waters amidst strong winds and rain yesterday afternoon.
The three, who went missing, include two women, one from Simbu and another from Eastern Highlands, and a male pastor, believed to be from East Sepik province.
The banana boat belonging to the Duke of York islanders in East New Britain was en route to Namatanai from Kokopo when disaster struck between 4pm and 5pm.
On board were nine people including the four-year-old child and bags of sweet potato and betelnut.
A survivor told The National that they encountered engine problems and were towed by another boat to a reef off an island in the Duke of York islands and told to paddle on shore.
He said due to rough seas and strong winds, they were pushed out back to the open sea as they tried to paddle ashore.
Huge waves overturned their boat and the passengers were told to take hold of containers, floats and other buoyant objects while the skipper swam about a kilometre to shore to seek help.
Three others were rescued while three are still missing.