Duo swept away by flooding river in Raikos District

Search is continuing along the coastline and waters of Raikos District in Madang Province for two men who were washed away by a flooding river on Thursday afternoon.

The search team comprising policemen from the Northern Mobile Group who are on deployment to Basamuk, health workers, company workers and immediate family members of the missing men.

They have been out at sea and at the mouth of the Yaganon River since Thursday night, and whole day yesterday attempting to locate the two missing men.

The first search party was sent out yesterday at 9am but was recalled between 2 and 3pm due to bad weather. A second attempt was made today concentrating on the waters between Raikos mainland, Long Island, Siassi and West New Britain, following the flow of the current.

Workers at Basamuk confirmed the two were local men from Dein Village in the Astrolabe Bay Local Level Government area, and were workers at the Basamuk Refinery Plant. They were returning home to spend the Easter holiday with their families when they came across the very unfortunate situation.

The elderly man was a driver, employed by Ramu Nickle Mine and the young man worked for a local contractor, Ganglau Landowner Company.

Sources at Basamuk said they were walking to their village on Thursday evening after work and were attempting to cross the Yaganon River when they were swept away by flooding waters.

Yaganon River is the main source of water supply to the Basamuk Refinery plant.

Raikos District is known for its fast flowing rivers, many with no bridges.