PORT MORESBY (THE NATIONAL) — Two persons are dead in Papua New Guinea and at least 10 are missing after a 75-horsepower dinghy capsized at the mouth of Gulf’s Vailala River.
Gulf police commander Chief Insp Jeffery Lemb said the dinghy was overloaded with store goods and 18 passengers when it capsised in rough seas. It was travelling from Siviri to Kaivakove village for a funeral programme.
The deceased were identified as seven-year-old Elissah Eddelk and Maipa Heheva, 48, both from Laivihairu village. Six have been accounted for and were reportedly well.
Police said four dinghies had set out for the trip that morning. Three went ahead while the one that was trailing got caught in the high seas and capsized, leading to the confirmed deaths and others missing.
Chief Insp Lemb said according to the six survivors, at the mouth of the Vailala River, they experienced rough seas, so the operator steered the dingy further out into the open sea, about 2km away from the beach.
“They could hardly see any land features as the boat operator tried navigating through the rough seas. The first wave crashed into the dinghy from the back,” he said.
He said because the dinghy was overloaded, it started to sink. The second wave that hit dragged the passengers into the open waters with it.
Police said the survivors’ statements had also confirmed that “the operator was sober and had no issues before departing the Siviri beachfront”.
“The four survivors used a timber from the dinghy to remain adrift in the open sea for 20 hours before coming to shore early the next day (Sunday, 6-7am). Locals from Ova’a village looked after them and later brought them to Kerema hospital where they were checked and treated,” he said.
Warnings have been put out to small boat operators around the country and, most recently in Morobe, about overloading and going out to sea in rough and wet weather.
Lemp repeated the warning for small boat operators and owners in Central and Gulf waters.
“It’s windy and rainy season when the rivers are high and we have rough seas. People should take more precautions at this time. They can always choose to reschedule their trips when the weather conditions are hostile. Life is important,” he said.
He added that it is very important as well to observe small sea craft regulations.
“Overloading, skipper and passengers drinking alcohol or being intoxicated and using faulty motors are a recipe for disaster,” he said.
“Those skippers and crew who are found to be negligent will be arrested and charged with manslaughter if deaths do occur due to their contributory negligence, said Lemp…. PACNEWS