The search for 10 fishermen missing off Samoa following last week's Tropical Cyclone has been suspended.
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand said they have been asked to scale down the search by the amoa Police Superintendent, after a three day of search involving a RNZAF P3 Orion and a French Navy Guardian aircraft failed to find the men.
The men were aboard four different vessels, with the search encompassing a 5000 square kilometre area.
The decision to suspend the search was made after the RNZAF P3 Orion completed a final search of one of the smaller islands this morning, however RCCNZ search and rescue coordinator Neville Blakemore said the search could be reactivated if new information came to hand.
"We are confident that the area has been thoroughly covered in difficult circumstances," he said.
