Boat with 12 people reported missing

By JIMMY KALEBE
TWELVE people are reported missing after their boat experienced engine problem on Monday in seas between Sialum and Siassi Islands in the Tewai-Siassi district of Morobe.
Siassi local level government official Wila Omole said four boats had left Sialum at around midday for Siassi Island. They encountered rough seas in the Vitiaz Strait.
“Two boats were able to make it to shore at Sialum, while one made it to Siassi Island.
The other with the 12 people on board developed engine problem and went adrift,” Omole said.
He said boats developing engine trouble in that area usually drifted towards Milne Bay.
He thinks the 12 may be headed that way.
The Tewai-Siassi electoral office is organising a search rescue operation and is waiting for the sea conditions to improve. “We will conduct a search for the missing boat,” Omole said.
Morobe disaster coordinator Charley Masange said rescue efforts with the National Maritime Safety Authority began on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, we cannot do much as the sea is still rough. We cannot use small boats to go out. With the efforts by the NMSA, we hope to make it,” Masange said.
He said waves up to three metres high posed a danger to seafarers.
“People are just too stubborn and do not take warnings seriously which leads to problems as experienced now,” he said.
“If big ships are taking the warnings and extra precautions, what is wrong with small boat operators and passengers (still) travelling? Let’s heed warnings issued by the authorities to save lives and properties.”