12 bodies recovered in PNG maritime disasters as searches continue

Papua New Guinea authorities are managing several separate cases of missing people due to boating incidents in recent days.

East New Britain disaster officials continue to search for up to 27 people missing since last Saturday after their two boats capsized while travelling from the Duke of York group to Kokopo.

As of late Friday, 12 bodies had been found, on the south west coast of neighbouring New Ireland province.

In another incident, off New Ireland's north, a search was underway on Friday for six people missing after their boat capsized.

And the Post Courier reports that closer to PNG's mainland, a search was underway on Friday for about 8 passengers missing after a dinghy carrying a casket capsized off Makamaka in Alotau District on Thursday.

Bad weather in Bougainville hampers search

Search and rescue efforts for a missing vessel travelling from Nissan Island to Buka have been temporarily suspended at sea due to deteriorating weather conditions across the Bougainville region.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government's Directorate of Disaster and Emergency said the National Weather Service and the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre have issued warnings of strong winds, making sea-based search operations unsafe until conditions improve.

The missing vessel left Nissan Island for Buka on Saturday, 18 July, carrying three people on board.

NBC Bougainville reports the missing persons are skipper Mitchell Tokiapron, crew member Darrell, and passenger Horen Kapiatu.

Despite the suspension of sea searches, the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre continue to broadcast alerts to all vessels operating in New Ireland waters.

However, no confirmed sightings of the missing boat have been reported.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government has extended its thoughts and prayers to the families of the three missing men and is urging the public to avoid sharing unverified information on social media, relying instead on official updates from authorities.