Police in Ha'apai are searching for the body of a three year old boy, one of two children who fell overboard from a small boat in Ha'afeva, on Saturday December 3.

The boy's 5-year-old sister was rescued by those at the scene. They were passengers on a local boat from 'O'ua.

Tonga Police in Ha'apai with the Police Search and Rescue boat the MV 'Amolua continued the search for the missing boy today.

In a statement, Tonga Police said that the children fell into the water on Saturday morning, at around 5:07 am.

"A local boat from 'O'ua went under the loading end of the MV 'Otuanga'ofa while the ferry was docked in Ha'afeva to pick up people from he nearby islands to travel to Tongatapu."

The SAR boat 'Amolua left Pangai at 6:30 am on Saturday for Ha'afeva, and brought the 5-year-old back to the hospital in Pangai. They reported that the girl is recovering well at the Niu'ui Hospital.