The Bougainville Disaster Office says after several days of searching there has been no sign of the six people who went missing while on a trip to Nissan Island.
The group which included Bougainville Health Minister, Charry Napto and his wife and son, left Buka for Nissan late morning last Saturday.
Sunset over a calm ocean in Bougainville.
Photo: Wellington Chocolate Factory
But they never arrived on the outer island.
A survivor reached shore and has been able to tell officials about the sudden sinking of the banana boat, but the head of the Disaster Office, Lieutenant Colonel John Imaka, says, despite a wide search by aircraft and boats, nothing has been found.
Bougainville boat tragedy survivor says seas very rough
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Bad weather likely to blame for Bougainville boat disappearance
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The boat was carrying Bougainville Health Minister, Charry Napto, his wife and son, and three others.
One person has been found alive but there are no signs yet of the others, or the boat.
Bougainville Atolls
Photo: courtesy of Cathnews
Community worker, Ursula Rakova, who regularly travels between Nissan or the Atolls and Bougainville, has campaigned for years for a ferry service that can handle the sometimes big seas.
She said on this occasion the disaster and emergency office had been warning boat operators not to put to sea, because of the weather. I am pretty sure the boat that went down travelling to Nissan [was] because of the rough weather. And i don t know how many times we continue to cry over these to the government responsible. They just forget about our cries for safe, efficient and reliable means of transportation, she said.