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Ferry Sinks Off Vanuatu Coast, Leaving One Dead and 30 Missing
Confirmed
In Short: One person has died and more than 30 are unaccounted for after an inter-island ferry sank off the coast of Vanuatu, according to reports.
One person has died and more than 30 are unaccounted for after the MV Matui ferry sank off the coast of Vanuatu, the nation’s Government said, with search and rescue personnel actively scouring the coastline for survivors.
Search efforts continue via land and sea, with communities on the coast of Ambae Islands told to look out for and help possible survivors.
Vanuatu authorities have been searching for survivors, with one person found dead and another 15 rescued, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The coast guard said on Saturday that the number of survivors remained 43, with many receiving treatment in hospital, but 13 people remain unaccounted for.
Tui's Shipping, the company which owns the MV Matui ferry, has been called into question, with the Vanuatu's Ministry of the Prime Minister suggesting the sinking may be due to overloading and negligence.
What's confirmed
- One person has died and more than 30 are unaccounted for after the MV Matui ferry sank off the coast of Vanuatu, the nation’s Government said, with search and rescue personnel actively scouring the coastline for survivors.
- Search efforts continue via land and sea, with communities on the coast of Ambae Islands told to look out for and help possible survivors.
- Vanuatu authorities have been searching for survivors, with one person found dead and another 15 rescued, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- The coast guard said on Saturday that the number of survivors remained 43, with many receiving treatment in hospital, but 13 people remain unaccounted for.
- Tui's Shipping, the company which owns the MV Matui ferry, has been called into question, with the Vanuatu's Ministry of the Prime Minister suggesting the sinking may be due to overloading and negligence.
What's still developing
- In a statement today, Vanuatu's Ministry of the Prime Minister said the sinking "appears to be the result of strong winds and marine warnings not being heeded, and possibly of negligence, including overloading of the vessel".
- According to MP for Lunganville Matai Seremiah, the search has moved from open water to the south-east coast, where currents may have carried survivors.
- The MV Matui sank on Friday in rough seas between the islands of Ambae and Santo with more than 40 crew and passengers on board.
- Vanuatu authorities have been searching for survivors after an inter-island ferry carrying 34 passengers and 11 crew members sank in critical weather conditions on Friday.
- Police told national broadcaster VBCTC that MV Matui sank in rough seas on Friday while sailing between the islands of Ambae and Santo.
- He said the search in open waters was winding down, with rescuers refocusing their efforts closer to the south-east coast, where currents may have carried survivors.
- "To the families of those missing and those we have lost, please know that the nation stands with you in this time of grief," the statement said.
- ( Supplied: Tui's Shipping/Facebook ) An inter-island ferry carrying 45 people, including crew, has sunk north of Vanuatu during rough weather conditions.