The Native Iowan

TEN people including two children are reportedly missing at sea between Ulawa and Three Sister Island in Makira/Ulawa Province.Reports reaching The Solomon Star from Ulawa stated they were on their way to Three Sister Island from Ulawa to work on a tourism home stay project.However, they never made it to the destination since then.

As of last night, a spokesman from the Search and Rescue Unit confirmed that they were yet to be located.

“We are still waiting on latest updates but there is still nothing new,” the spokesman said.

The Solomon Star understands that a search and rescue team including police in the province have been searching since Tuesday.

A helicopter was also dispatched to the area yesterday to help with the rescue efforts.

However, because of the bad weather search had been called off late yesterday afternoon.

It is still unknown if they have drifted or their boat has capsized.

It is understood two people who had mobile phones in the boat were unable to be contacted because their phones were disconnected.

What should be an independence celebration for families of the ten people turned out otherwise, as families prayed for the safety of their loved ones.

Over the past days weather conditions in the country had been very poor with strong wind, high swells, heavy rain at times in parts of the country.

The weather office over the past days have also issued advice on the weather conditions in the country advising the public to take extra precaution when out traveling in the sea.