Police from Madang and Wewak are investigating the death of more than three people who went missing on a boat that was traveling from Wewak to Madang on Tuesday 27 December 2022.
Wewak police have confirmed that three dead bodies were found at sea and were taken to the Boram General Hospital morgue in Wewak. Police said they are yet to establish the cause of the incident.
Boram Hospital's Morgue man Albert Kingu informed this newsroom that the three bodies were that of two women, one from Yangoru and the other from Maprik, East Sepik Province and the third person is a male from Usino Bundi, Madang.
Kingu said the dead bodies were brought in yesterday afternoon.
The newsroom also confirmed that one of the deceased is the wife of an ex-police prosecutor in Madang. According to the husband Henry Suamani, his wife was at home in Yangoru`s Soli village and was returning to Madang when the incident happened.
He said his wife and one of his grandsons were together with the two deceased and other passengers that got on the boat at Kreer Market and left for Madang on Tuesday around 12 noon.
Suamani stated that the last time he spoke to his wife was before they left Wewak just before noon. He is unsure how many were on board for Madang and what transpired along the way.
"I am not sure if they were killed by pirates or their boat capsized at sea. I am not sure where actually the incident happened. I hope the police investigation will reveal that. I am lost for words now because I have lost two family members," Sumani said.
Madang Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent David Seine Jr and East Sepik Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Christopher Tamari said that they are aware of the incident and investigations are underway.