POLICE in Lata, Temotu Province, rescued seven people, two women and five men, from a motorised boat when it ran aground on a reef at Cape Mendana on Santa Cruz Island in the afternoon of 3 April 2018.
“Luckily when the police at Lata Police Station got to the scene after 5pm on Tuesday, the boat was already on the reef and the seven people were able to be saved,” says Operations Manager, Inspector Lily Dagi.
“Their boat and outboard motor engine were also salvaged during the rescue,” Inspector Dagi added.
At the same time, there’s good news for one of the boats that have been reported earlier missing when travelling from the Reef Islands to Lata on Santa Cruz on 30 March 2018 with three women and two men on board.
“We have received a report that the boat with the five people on board has been found safe at Matembo Village on Utupua Island,” says Ops Manager, Inspector Dagi.
Police at Lata are still searching for a second boat with four men and one child on board which went missing when travelling from Lata to the Reef Islands on 30 March 2018.
“Police want to strongly remind people in Temotu Province to check the weather with the Met Service or listen to the SIBC before making any plans to travel between the different islands especially during the current bad weather.
“We understand travelling by small boats is the only means of transport between the islands in the Province but we must think safety first at all times.”
Inspector Dagi said boat owners and skippers must also remember to take extra fuel, life jackets, paddles and other safety equipment when travelling in the small boats.
The Met Service can be contacted on the toll free phone 933.
– Police Media Unit
