Funeral tragedy

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Funeral tragedy

PORT MORESBY: Three lives were lost when a boat ferrying 30 people capsized in their journey to a relative's funeral on Thursday (March 14, 2019).

They were escorting  the remains of their relative which was on another boat (dinghy) when tragedy struck.

According to a report in The National, police recovered the body of a four-year-old girl near Pityluh Islands in Manus on Sunday (March 17, 2019). The remains of a six-year-old boy was found on Friday morning (March 15, 2019), ashore in Mokereng, and that of a 17-year-old girl was recovered in Point Chopon the same night.

Provincial Police Commander David Yapu told The National that all three were reported missing at the Lombrum Naval Base shore.

Yapu said: “The passengers were on their way to bury a woman relative. The body was transported in a dinghy and the passengers on the other boat capsized together with five children and 25 adults.

“As they were nearing the Pityluh Islands, strong winds and waves lashed the boat, capsizing it. The passengers held on to the side of the boat, drifted for about 30 minutes and were rescued by people on a passing boat."

The provincial disaster office and police were informed that the three were missing and search and rescue operation was launched.


An Australian vessel was in the area and helped in the search which was called off at 6pm because of bad weather.

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