12 bodies recovered in PNG maritime disasters as searches continue

Papua New Guinea is grappling with multiple maritime disasters as authorities continue searches for dozens of missing people. In the East New Britain province, disaster officials are searching for up to 27 individuals who went missing last Saturday. Their two boats capsized while en route from the Duke of York group to Kokopo. As of Friday, 12 bodies had been recovered along the southwest coast of neighboring New Ireland province.

Further north, off New Ireland's coast, a search was ongoing Friday for six people whose boat capsized. Closer to the mainland, in Alotau District, a search was underway for about eight passengers after a dinghy carrying a casket capsized on Thursday.

Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts for a missing vessel in the Bougainville region have been temporarily halted. The boat, carrying three people, departed Nissan Island for Buka on July 18. Deteriorating weather, including strong winds, has made sea-based operations unsafe, according to the Autonomous Bougainville Government's Directorate of Disaster and Emergency. The National Weather Service and Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre issued warnings, leading to the suspension of sea searches.

Despite the suspension, alerts are being broadcast to vessels in New Ireland waters. The Autonomous Bougainville Government has extended condolences to the families of the three missing men and urged the public to rely on official updates, discouraging the spread of unverified information on social media.

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The National Weather Service and the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre have issued warnings of strong winds, making sea-based search operations unsafe until conditions improve.