One dead, 20 missing in sea tragedy

ONE man is dead and about 20 others missing at sea after an overloaded coastal vessel capsized off Rai Coast in Madang on Monday afternoon.
A total of 42 passengers survived, according to the provincial disaster and emergency service, which said that the vessel was overloaded with more than 60 passengers and cargo and was heading to Madang when disaster struck about 2pm.
Reports said that some survivors managed to swim ashore.
“The vessel was roughly 30km off Singor village in Rai Coast when it capsized and, at the moment, it is believed that overloading and technical problem were the cause of the tragedy,” Madang disaster and emergency coordinator Pius Ikuma, who was notified eight hours after the incident, said. The deceased was located after midnight and was transferred to Modilon General Hospital mortuary, while the survivors were all transported yesterday to Saidor station.
Hospital authorities last night confirmed the dead and two injured – a man and a woman – who were admitted at the accident and emergency ward and were under close supervision.
They said local residents had been gathering outside the hospital premises awaiting the news of those still unaccounted for.
All entry routes into Modilon have been cordoned off from traffic and the public.
“The other survivors will be treated at the Saidor health centre,” Ikuma said.
He said there were now 30 search and rescue personnel, including locals, in eight dinghies involved in the operation.
He said the Border Development Authority had provided one of its vessels, mv Mundai, to assist in the search and rescue operation, which started yesterday.
“I am now conducting this operation on board
mv Mundai, and we will continue for the next few days with the assistance of the local dinghies,” Ikuma said.
The stretch of sea between Rai Coast and Madang town is notorious for its bad whether, with countless dinghies had lost at sea.