On August 19th, 2024, Police in Gizo rescued four people who jumped from a ray boat due to rough seas between Gizo and Vella la Vella Island.

The rescue came about when a 60-horse Yamaha boat encountered a rough sea and four people jumped overboard due to the boat nearly capsizing. A total of six passengers were on board three female adults, two male adults, and a 14-year-old boy.

Seeing the boat filled with water, three passengers including a 14-year-old boy jumped out from the boat while the skipper and a female passenger remained inside the boat and managed to overcome the rough seas to the first Island before reaching Gizo.

The skipper dropped off the female passenger including all market products asked for help from another boat and returned to the location where the four passengers jumped off from the boat. When they arrived, the passengers were already moved out by the strong current.

Gizo police and other relatives in Gizo were notified and search and rescue was conducted. Through the support of other small boats including police stabi craft. The four missing people were rescued in the afternoon.

The passenger boat traveled from North Vell la Vella to Gizo purposely to sell their market products

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province Superintendent Wilken Miriki said, “All small boat owners and skippers have to be conscious in making decisions when intending to travel during bad weather.”

Miriki said it is always a wise idea for small boat owners to consider safety first before starting a voyage to any destination.

“Boat owners as service providers must make sure necessary items like life jackets, compass, extra paddle, water, extra fuel and make sure to collect updated weather status information is very important before traveling,” he said.

-RSIPF Media Unit