One person has died and more than 30 remain missing after the inter-island ferry MV Matui sank off the coast of Vanuatu in rough seas, the Pacific nation’s government said on Sunday.
The vessel had set sail on Friday from the island of Santo to Ambae, in Vanuatu’s north, carrying more than 40 passengers and crew, but never arrived. Fifteen people have been accounted for alive and one body has been recovered, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Jotham Napat.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones,” Napat’s office said. “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 government 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.” An investigation into potential negligence has been launched to establish the facts and prevent a repeat.
Search operations in open waters are being scaled back as crews concentrate on the south-east coast, where currents may have carried survivors. Matai Seremaiah, the member of parliament for Luganville who is assisting the effort, said efforts would concentrate on that stretch of coastline.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in New Caledonia said it was assisting with the search, and a French Armed Forces aircraft was deployed on Sunday morning. Twelve people were located on Sunday morning.