Published on Matangi Tonga (https://matangitonga.to)

Home > No sighting of missing boat

No sighting of missing boat [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday, June 28, 2016 - 17:47

Search and rescue operations today found no sightings of a small boat carrying 11 people including five children, that failed to arrive at Fonoifua Island in Ha'apai, after leaving Nuku'alofa on Monday afternoon. The first report from a New Zealand surveillance aircraft that searched the area this afternoon had no sightings but the aerial search is continuing.
 
Tonga Police began a search and rescue operation this morning after getting the missing report at 8:00am. They stated that the surveillance aircraft after 1:00pm had only sighted a fishing vessel Pacific Moon operated by the local Pacific Sunrise Company in the area.

"The aircraft did not sight the missing boat. The aircraft is making contact with this fishing vessel to join the search which is ongoing," said Sgt Vi who is coordinating the operation from Nuku’alofa.

He said the aircraft was expected to report again after they stop for the day.

At the same time, HMAF Voea Savea vessel which was already in Ha’apai is reported to have joined the search and rescue operation.

No reports have been received yet from the two boats that left Fonoifua Island to carry out search of the area this morning.

Police believe that 11 people were travelling on the missing boat, the eldest a 50-plus year old man and the youngest a two-year-old girl, and they had failed to arrive last night at the island, as expected.

If you have any information about the missing boat or know about the passengers who were travelling to Fonoifua please contact us at Matangi Tonga Online matangi [at] matangitonga [dot] to telephone 25779, or contact the Tonga Police.

Tonga [2]
Ha'apai Group [3]
missing boat [4]
Fonoifua Island [5]
search and rescue operation [6]
Emergencies [7]
Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2016/06/28/no-sighting-missing-boat

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2016/06/28/no-sighting-missing-boat [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/haapai-group?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/missing-boat?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/fonoifua-island?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/search-and-rescue-operation?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/topic/emergencies?page=1