Search continues for five ENB PHA staff and families missing at sea

The search for five East New Britain Provincial Health Authority [ENB PHA] senior staff and their family members reported missing at sea between Pidgin Island and Kokopo has been scaled down overnight, with authorities to resume operations at first light.

The missing people have been identified as ENB PHA staff members Carol Malisa, Clive Pennie, Manuel Sialis and Raymond Maramun, along with their family members. Carol Malisa and Clive Pennie are a couple, while Relvie Taplar is also among those reported missing.

ENB PHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Ako Yap confirmed that the staff members and their families went missing late Saturday afternoon while travelling between Pidgin Island and Kokopo.

East New Britain Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Josephine Wiltshire said search teams had spent the day searching the waters using six banana boats, the Police Patrol Vessel [PPV] Manning and a Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary boat.

"We have searched long and hard today. We've had six banana boats out from all the way down from Rabaul up to here," Chief Inspector Wiltshire said.

"Unfortunately, we have not found any debris or anything at all that would indicate that at this stage there is something to give us a little bit of hope."

She said the search was called off as darkness approached due to strong winds and difficult sea conditions.

"It's coming on to the hours of darkness and it's getting strong winds, so we're going to call the search off today. But tomorrow morning we're going to do a low-key search," she said.

Chief Inspector Wiltshire said while the chances of finding survivors were becoming lower, authorities were not giving up hope.

"The likelihood that we're going to find survivors is low, but we are spreading our thoughts and our prayers. You never know, it may have got to New Ireland. There is always hope," she said.

She said police in New Ireland had also been alerted to assist with the search, while fishing vessels operating in the area had been asked to keep watch for any signs of the missing people.

"We've put a call out to all the fishing vessels to actually keep searching. Even though we have stopped searching, everybody else is still searching and we're going to try and find something to give you closure or to give you hope," Chief Inspector Wiltshire said.

The search is expected to continue at first light with the PPV Manning and RPNGC boats returning to the sea.