The search for five missing Nissan Islanders missing for two months ago has been called off.
The five, two men and three women, left Buka on 22 October to travel to Nissan Island when their banana boat probably drifted off course.
The search was abandoned after a Twin Otter plane chartered by the National Disaster Office was engaged to carry out a three hour aerial search over possible locations where the boat may have drifted.
Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, Franklin Lessie, said that the cancellation was due to the fact that it was expensive to maintain the search and the timeframe for the search had been exceeded.
“This does not mean that we have totally abandoned all hope, we will follow any leads that may help us to locate them,” Mr Lessie said.
He said that people travelling to the outer islands of Bougainville must take heed of standard sea travel regulations.
He revealed that the missing boat left Buka on the day he had issued a strong winds warning to sea travellers.
He added that, according to some reports, the boat’s skipper had failed to bring with him travel aids such as a Global Positioning System.
Mr Lessie said that carelessness and not taking heed of warnings was always dangerous.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these missing persons.
Posted by: Maria Buka Meri | 18 December 2009 at 11:29 AM