The search for two Niuatoputapu missing fishermen has been called off after the discovery of their fishing boat, Tongan Police reported.
The fishermen, aged 58 and 48, were reported missing after they did not return to shore from a fishing trip on Tuesday 6. .
Police said that HMAF’s petrol vessel Voea Savea reported the recovered boat was found capsized about 22kms off shore and there was no sign of the missing men.
Vavaʻu Police Superindentend Netane Falakiseni said reports on social media that the two men were found in Fiji yesterday were not true.
He said they have contacted Fiji Police to confirm the authenticity of reports that two fishermen from Tonga came to shore in the island of Taveuni and were taken to hospital and the response confirmed they were untrue.
Police called on the public and social media users to refrain from making false reports especially when it comes to sensitive cases like that of the missing fishermen.
