It has been three days now since the 27 people went missing after their boat (dinghies) capsized between Pangpang Island and Pidgin Island on the waters of East New Britain, on Saturday 18th July 2026, between 4 and 5pm in the afternoon.
The two dinghies where transporting four families back to Kokopo, after having their family picnic or gathering on Pangpang Island. On their return they encountered horrendous sea weather conditions where disaster struct.
Following this unfortunate accident, as search and rescue efforts were launched; however, it comes up empty, without any sign or luck in finding and rescuing any survivors from the 27 missing. From reports gathered from the authorities, most are children.
East New Britain Provincial Police Commander – Chief Superintendent Amanda Kates, told PNG Haus Bung in an interview today that Police together with the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Services, along with other authorities with the assistance the of locals, are doing everything they possibly can with the search and rescue efforts to find these missing 27.
PPC Kates said, at this point they are heavily relying on aerial search rather than searching on the sea, as the boats that were sent out on were met with atrocious conditions, making it difficult for them to navigate their way on sea.
So far, the only survivors are the two dinghy operators. The PPC said that it was a miracle for the two dinghy operators to be found alive after keeping themselves afloat for 5hours or more. When the accident happened the two operators tried to swim towards Pidgeon Island, but the currents were too strong and carried them close to Bai Island, where the Islanders of Bai were able to rescue them and call out for help.
Kates further stated that, “the two operators are not in any police custody; they are not under arrest. What they are doing at the moment is that they are assisting us with the inquiry. They are the only two people that have last seen the occupants of the two dinghies alive. We are trying to keep an open mind, by asking everybody on what actually happened, by gathering statements from the people of Bai Island or any boat or shipping vessels travelling within the radius of the incident, at the time the incident occurred, so we can find out what really happened.”
The East New Britain Police boss, regretfully put down the search mission to be a Recovery mission now, rather and a Rescue mission. She is hoping and praying that they are able to find survivors, and it would be a miracle to find them if they could.
Despite the helicopter of Manolos Aviation doing its very best with the aerial search, they have not seen one single debri, wreckage or any sort of evidence, or signs of the missing families. The helicopter was able to find the other dinghy, with the engine still intact but overturned and floating a few miles off the coast of New Ireland Province.
Unfortunately, this was the only thing found apart from any sign of human since the incident on Saturday 18th July 2026. Apart from that, nothing has been found, recovered or not even any sighting of any sort to give hope to the search and rescue team and the families of the missing 27 people.
Chief Superintendent Kates has now issued a further warning to the people in the islands not to take to the seas at this time and learn from what just happened to avoid any further and unnecessary incidents.
“People have been going out with overloaded boats without proper safety equipment and gears. So, for the next month, the police have talked to the island leaders, and we are going to run a month’s awareness on sea safety and what are the important things you need to carry and such,” Kates said.
However, she has strongly advised the people, especially the islanders, not to be travelling the seas at the current time, as the weather conditions are so horrendous and dangerous to be travelling on sea.
PPC Kates has also extended her heartfelt sympathy to the immediate families and relatives of the missing 27. She said they are doing their absolute best to find them, and like many others are thinking at the moment, she hopes for a miracle that they can find them alive and well.
Meanwhile, just this afternoon, authorities have reported that a body of a woman has been discovered on the shores of Djaul Island in the New Ireland province. Authorities strongly believe she is one of the missing 27.
A helicopter will head to the area to transport the body back to Kokopo, East New Britain.
