14 survive 5 days at sea

**The survivors of a boating mishap with Manus police commander Chief Insp David Yapu (left).**

FOURTEEN people who survived a boat mishap in New Ireland are now in Manus.
Manus police commander Chief Insp David Yapu said the survivors, 12 adults and two children, were travelling from Emirau Island in the Murat local level government (LLG) area to Kavieng town on Oct 26 when the boat’s engine failed.
Chief Insp Yapu said based on a statement by the group’s spokesman, Nedley Leban, the 14 drifted out at sea for five days surviving on fruits and dried coconuts and little water until the ocean currents pushed them towards Nauna, a small island in the Rapatona LLG of Manus.

**Spokesman Nedley Leban (third right) at Nauna Primary school with the survivors. – Picture supplied**

Leban said they reached Manus on Oct 31 where they were rescued by the locals and the incident was reported to the provincial disaster office.
They were fed and sheltered and would be repatriated home this week.
Chief Insp Yapu said he travelled to Nauna Island over the weekend and met the survivors.
Meanwhile, Chief Insp Yapu said he and his men also attended to some local complaints on the island, arresting eight youths who had damaged school property while drunk.
He and his men also conducted an awareness on general law and order issues for the community, with local leaders pleased to see police presence on the island.