The Marine Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety is currently looking for four fishermen who went out fishing towards the Manu’a islands last week. They have been reported as ‘lost at sea’, and this was confirmed by Commissioner of Public Safety, William Haleck.

Responding to Samoa News queries, Haleck said DPS has reached out to the Samoa government for assistance in using one of their boats for the search.

They have also reached out to the local US Coast Guard for help with the on-going search. Haleck told Samoa News the four fishermen have been missing since last week Wednesday and they are doing everything they can in terms of resources to look for the four men.

He said the Marine Patrol was out at sea early yesterday morning and the search would continue until nightfall. 

DPS Spokesperson Fuega Moliga told Samoa News the men had chartered an alia to go out fishing and there has been very little information provided by the owner of the alia. “It’s unclear who these men are, where they are from,” said Fuega.

USCG Lt. Vignette Kaltsas confirmed that the Coast Guard is providing assistance. Two  USCG staff who were on island for a training are out with the Marine patrol officers on this search. Asked if she will be requesting assistance of the USCG C-130 airplane, Lt Kaltsas says no, as New Zealand is the region command center that called this is in, not the US.

Efforts to get comments from the owner of the alia were unsuccessful as of press time.

The search continues today.