A 70-year-old man has been reunited with his family after he went missing last month with the Police confirming that he was found and reunited with his family.

The Police had put out an appeal and sought the assistance of the public on the whereabouts of Laki Vui Samaota of Vaitoloa who was reported missing on 27 April 2023. 

But the Police, in a recent post on their social media page, said that the 70-year-old man from Vaitoloa had been located and reunited with his family. 

"Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services wishes to advise the public that Laki Vui Samoata 70 years old of Vaitoloa, who was reported missing to our office on the 27th of April 2023 has been located and reunited safely with his family," reads the post. “We also acknowledge the assistance of the public for your continuous support.”

A 16-year-old girl from Falevao, Faalanu Tololi has also been found according to the Police, and reunited with her family after she went missing late last month.

“Faalanu is a 16-year-old teenager who was reported missing on Tuesday 25th of April 2023. It is noted that she went missing on Monday 24th April 2023 at around 2 pm in the afternoon. Faalanu has since been found and has reunited with her family."

Another old man, 79-year-old Tautaifau Kipaoa Faavesi from Asau in Savai'i has been missing since Friday 14 April 2023 and is yet to be found by either the Police or the family. 

According to the Police, the man from Asau went missing at around 9 am in the morning, forcing his granddaughter Vai Eti Jay to take to social media to express her family's concerns. 

"It's been four days since our dear grandpa Vesi had gone missing. We've been praying, asking heavenly father to keep him safe wherever he may be right now, I personally trembled last night I couldn't sleep, till this morning," she posted on her Facebook page last month.

"Hate to admit it but my faith wavered but then I remember one of my Pa's fav hymns from our hymn book, matai e ua sou le vasa.”

Ms. Jay said they thought he stopped at a family home to rest while walking to Safa’I because he never takes or hitches a ride with anyone unless he has money to pay them. 

Mr. Faavesi was last seen wearing a shirt with black stripes and an old ie lavalava. According to his granddaughter, her grandfather has symptoms of dementia.

The Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, told Samoa Observer last month that the Police Ministry's drone team conducted an aerial survey within the vicinity of Itu o Tane but he was not found.