‘Aho Ta’e’iloa Ma’ulu’ulu (36) from Lofanga remains missing at sea in Ha’apai after he rang police last night, October 3, to report that his boat engine died between Mo’unga’one and Nukupule Island, in Ha’apai.

A search by local boats is underway but no sight of the missing boat or the man has been sighted, said a police spokesperson this afternoon.

‘Aho rang police emergency on 922 on his cellphone reporting what had happened and that he needed help at around 8:20pm. He also told police that he had no radio communication or safety gear on board.

Police called for assistance to all the search and rescue avenues including RCCNZ, before two local boats from Ha’apai began the search.

It is reported that ‘Aho had left Lofanga at around 2:00pm yesterday, with 12 passengers in a 20ft long fiberglass white cabin boat run by a 40-horsepower engine.

He dropped off six fishermen at Nukupule before continuing to Mo’unga’one, where he dropped off the remaining passengers

‘Aho is said to have returned and was on route to stop over at Nukupule to pick up the fishermen, but he never reached the island.

Nukupule is three miles north of Lofanga.

Search continues today in rough seas.