13 rescued at sea after 9 days

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THIRTEEN people were rescued after being adrift at sea for nine days, before Cyclone Lucas hit the Milne Bay area on Saturday, an official has confirmed.
Provincial Disaster Office coordinator Steven Tobessa said the vessel was found drifting in seas along the border with the Solomon Islands.
“They were rescued by the New Zealand-bound cargo ship MV Canhope 24 hours before Tropical Cyclone Lucas struck,” he said.
“Their boat had an engine failure.
“They passed PNG’s last island (Rossell Island) and were (drifting) towards the border with Solomon Islands when they were spotted at 3pm on Saturday by an Australian maritime search and rescue plane.
“They were brought to Misima Island and offloaded at 3pm Sunday.”
Cyclone Lucas, which brought much rain to the country in the past two weeks, has since moved away towards Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
The nine had left Duau on Nomanby Island in the Esa’ala district for a two-day trip to Kiriwina Island to sell betel nuts.
After selling the betel nut, they returned for Duau and were supposed to arrive on Thursday, Jan 21.
Relatives raised the alarm on Sunday Jan 24 when they had not arrived home.
“On Monday Jan 25, I contacted the National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination centre in Port Moresby about the boat’s situation,” he said.
“I also sent out a broadcast on our local maritime radio network informing people in the outer islands and other boats operating in Milne Bay waters to look out for the distressed boat.”
When he did not receive any response last Wednesday, he again called the search and rescue centre in Port Moresby to seek help from Australian maritime search and rescue authorities.
“A plane sighted the boat on Saturday at 3pm north east of Rossell Island,” Tobessa said.
“Australian maritime search and rescue authorities requested ships in the area to pick them up.
“The New Zealand bound cargo carrier ship picked them up.
“Their boat was abandoned.”
The nine are receiving medical treatment at the Misima hospital.
“After the cyclone is over, they will be brought to Alotau.”