One missing and three swim to safety after boat capsizes in Madang

ONE man from Manus is missing while three managed to swim to Karkar Island, in Madang, after their boat capsized between Manus and Madang on Friday.
They were travelling on a 23-footer powered by a 40-horsepower outboard. They had 30 bags of betel nuts on board.
Manus police commander Chief Inspector David Yapu said the boat developed engine trouble after encountering strong winds and rain.
They were close to Karkar Island when they overturned, he said.
The boat operator with two others managed to swim ashore but the fourth person from Bujoh ward in the Pobuma local-level government area in Lorengau remains missing.
One of the survivors was admitted at the health centre at Karkar Island.
Yapu said one of the survivors was recently charged by police for involvement in drug activities on Manus and was out on bail with his wife. He suspected that the trip to Madang was to buy more
drugs.
Yapu has arranged for his officers to travel by police boat to Karkar Island to pick up the survivors for questioning.
He again warned people doing betel nut trade to be careful of the conditions when travelling by sea.
Yapu said police statistics from May 16 to June 16 showed that police arrested 24 people for drugs and 28 people for homebrew offences.
He thanked mobile squad 17 for their assistance.