Six People Reported Missing at Sea

Six people are missing at sea.

They were last seen on Thursday, March 2.

A relative of two of the missing people told EMTV News that the six had left Wewak for Manus on Thursday.

They were expected to return on the next day (Friday, March 3) but have since not gone back.

Jane Kutau, Sara Kutau, Jimmy Makamet and Shane Makament along with two others from Tarawai Island in East Sepik Province, left Wewak on Thursday in a 23-foot banana boat along with two 40 HP outboard motors, for Manus Province.

Cosmos Makamet, the brother of Jimmy and Shane Makamet, told EMTV that they had arrived in Manus. They were carrying betel nut to Manus due to the high demand for the green nuts.

They were on their way back when Jimmy, the skipper, called a relative informing them  that one of the outboard motors had a problem. That was the last they heard from the six.

When the boat did not return to Wewak the next day they reported the issue to Wewak Disaster office.

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre sent out a radio call to all vessels in and around the coordinated area to keep a lookout for the missing boat.

Cosmos Makamet said even though it has been a week since they’ve gone missing they are hopeful the six may still be alive.