Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea— A coastal storm overturned a small fishing boat off Papua New Guinea on November 1, 2026, leaving one fisherman dead and three others rescued after hours in rough water.
The boat left early morning from a village in Central Province. It carried four men heading for reef fishing grounds. Wind picked up by mid-morning. Waves rose to more than two meters. The boat, a 20-foot fiberglass dinghy with an outboard motor, flipped when a large swell hit broadside.
Villagers on shore saw the boat disappear. They alerted local police and launched two other dinghies. One survivor was found clinging to an ice box. Two others held onto the overturned hull. The fourth man was found face down in the water.
"The sea turned very quickly. These boats are small and have no radio. When a storm hits, they are exposed," a provincial maritime official said in Port Moresby. He said the dead fisherman was in his late 30s and leaves behind three children.
Papua New Guinea's coastal fisheries are dangerous. Fishermen rely on small boats, often overloaded, with little safety gear. Life jackets are rare. Weather forecasts often do not reach remote villages. Drownings are common during the northwest monsoon transition.
The three survivors were taken to a health center with cuts, exhaustion and hypothermia. One had swallowed seawater and was kept overnight. Community leaders said the village will hold a mourning ceremony tomorrow.
Police said they recovered the capsized boat late Saturday. The engine was still attached. The boat will be inspected for overloading. No alcohol was suspected. Officials said the storm was not formally warned by the weather office until after the incident.
Fisheries authorities urged fishermen to check weather reports and carry safety equipment. Aid groups have pushed for distribution of life jackets and VHF radios, but funding is limited.
The sea remained rough Saturday evening. All small boats were advised to stay ashore. The search operation is now closed.
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