27 missing, including 11 children, after two boats capsize off Papua New Guinea

A search is underway for up to 27 people, including 11 children, who are missing at sea after two boats capsized in the Islands region of Papua New Guinea. The group, comprising staff from the East New Britain Provincial Health Authority along with their families and friends, was reportedly traveling approximately 20 kilometers from Pangpang Island to Kokopo, the provincial capital.

The incident occurred on Saturday, July 19, 2026. The East New Britain Provincial Disaster Committee confirmed the capsizing and immediately launched a search operation. By Saturday night, two survivors, identified as skippers, managed to reach the mainland at Baii Village. They were taken to the Kokopo Police Station for interviews as part of the ongoing investigation.

Search operations, involving police, the National Disaster Office, the Maritime Safety Authority, and local vessels, have been significantly challenged by severe weather. Rough seas and strong winds, exacerbated by the ongoing El Niño weather patterns, have hampered both sea and air searches, leading to temporary pauses. A helicopter provided by the National Government has been involved in the aerial search, which resumed on Tuesday.

Authorities are working under difficult conditions across a wide area. Levi Mano, chairman of the East New Britain Disaster Committee, emphasized the need for all agencies to be engaged in the complex search operation. The East New Britain government has issued a strong advisory, urging all travelers to meticulously check weather and sea conditions and take necessary precautions before embarking on journeys.

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police were involved as the search operation required "all agencies" to be engaged.