Man, sons recovering after mishap

National

By GYNNIE KERO and MARTHA DERUAGE
A MAN and his sons, aged between three and five years old, are recovering at the East Sepik Hospital after a boat they were travelling in capsized on Monday.
According to medical officer in-charge of accidents and emergency, Dr Kapa Nombo, the man from Maprik in East Sepik, suffered salt and petrol burns on his chest and back and his sons suffered minor burns on their bodies.
“The conditions of the patients are stable and they are receiving medical attention,” he said.
Nombo said the man would need more time to recover from his wounds but the children were in stable conditions after treatment.
He said three adults were confirmed dead, eight people rescued, three people injured and eight still missing.
East Sepik rural commander inspector James Baugen told The National from Wewak that police were investigating the incident.
It is understood that the passengers got on a dinghy in Wewak town at around 6pm on Monday and capsized off Forok village, east coast of Wewak.
Locals at the villages helped rescue some of the passengers before alerting police.
“Police are trying to find out how many passengers altogether, the skipper and his crew escaped,” Baugen said.
He said boat operators and passengers alike did not take heed of warnings from the National Weather Office and ended up in such situations.
“It’s risky to travel during bad weather, awareness is conducted but all messages are ignored,” he said.