TWO fishermen from Taro Island, in Choiseul province who went missing last month have reunited with their families after returning safely to their families on Wednesday after spending weeks in Bougainville.
The two men went missing after they failed to return home from a fishing trip in mid August.
Police in Taro reported the missing duo lost navigation during the trip and failed to return home.
After spending six days and nights drifting out into the outer seas, they were found alive and well at the Feed Islands, Bougainville.
Reports received by this paper from Aloysius Laukai of New Dawn FM in Bougainville confirmed that the duo travelled from Buka to Arawa, and then from Sirovai to Taro onboard an arranged shipping vessel yesterday morning.
Before their departure, they also had an interview with the New Dawn FM.
“They told New Dawn FM that they were happy to be alive and return to their families on Taro Island.
“They said that they were very busy fishing and did not realize that they have drifted off away from their Island.
“And they drifted for six days to reach Feed Island where they were rescued by villagers.
“They also thanked the people of Feed and the Disaster office for making it possible for them to return home,” Mr Laukai reports from Dawn FM in Buka.
Mr Laukai said, according to the Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, Franklin Lacy, they were supposed to be taken by Solomon Islands Government officials, but the arrangement was changed as families have arranged their repatriation back home.
Meanwhile, this paper could not get comments from Police in Taro to confirm their arrival due to failed telecommunication attempts.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
