8 missing at sea

A dinghy carrying 8 people, one of them critically injured, that departed Woodlark Island last Thursday, destined for Alotau, remains missing.

A trip that should have taken 12 hours from Guasopa on Woodlark Island to Alotau has now been 5days.

Dinghy owner Gilmister Ben, who spoke to NBC News from Port Moresby, says the dinghy was hired out to Guasopa Health Centre to transport a critically injured patient [with a knife wound to the head] to Alotau General Hospital.

It's a 23-foot dinghy on a 60horse power and islanders within Milne Bay waters are being urged to report any possible sightings at this stage.