A man in his 30s has been reported missing since Saturday, April 22 when he left on his small boat from Manuka on the eastern side of Tongatapu to ‘Eua.

Tonga Police today said a request was sent to the Orion aircraft for assistance, which was sent to help with the search this afternoon.

The man who has not been named is said  to have left Manuka on his 19ft long boat by himself on Saturday morning bound for the outer island.

The last contact he made was to someone in ‘Eua.

He is reported to have told that person that the boat's engine had broken down. Tonga Police did not receive the missing report until around 10:00pm on Saturday night. "We have also received no further details on his location or the circumstances of his trip but search continues," said a police spokesperson.

A boat came from the island to look for him but he was nowhere to be seen.