Overloaded boat capsizes off Papua New Guinea, leaving four missing and one dead

On Saturday afternoon, an overloaded boat departed Kokopo Beach bound for Duke of York Island in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain province. Despite weather warnings, the craft—licensed for eight but carrying 14—was overturned by large swells, resulting in one fatality and nine survivors. Police commander Amanda Kates reported that four passengers are still missing as search efforts continue, with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary sending the patrol vessel Manning for rescue operations.

One rescued passenger, a man who kept an 11-year-old and a baby afloat through the night, was praised as a hero. Kates said the incident reflects the province's dependence on small boats rather than a regulated ferry service and urged development of a reliable inter-island transport system. Monitoring of the coastline will persist while other vessels are asked to watch for the missing individuals.