Pregnant mother amongst four people missing at sea

A young man from Milne Bay has been rescued off the coast of Tufi in Northern while a pregnant woman and four other men remain missing.

The man identified as Anthony Saul was found on the coastline of the Northern province after drifting in the open sea for about four days.

Saul said there were four others with him, who are yet to be found.

Operator Albert Eberegum Yunuwa, Joshua Ogerem who is in his mid 30s, Samson Igoro and the pregnant woman identified as Sheron Waiba are still missing as search and rescue attempts continue on the shores of Tufi.

The 35-year-old lone survivor was picked up last Friday by fishermen in the Tufi area and has been kept under health observation while Milne Bay authorities work on repatriation.

They had left Bolubolu on Goodenough Island last Monday and were heading to Tarakwaruru on mainland Alotau when they encountered a storm that set their dinghy upon a reef.

Saul told his in-law Michelle Waiyaraga, whom NBC News spoke with, that upon hitting the reef, at least three of them jumped overboard and tried swimming to safety.

According to Saul, only two of them were in the water but continued to cling to the dinghy.

He said it was sometime around Thursday that his friend also let go and on Friday, he was spotted and rescued.