One dead, more than 30 missing after Vanuatu ferry sinks, PM's office says
Search teams are focusing on the southeast coast after the MV Matui sank in rough seas, with 15 people accounted for alive.
- On Sunday, the Vanuatu government confirmed the ferry MV Matui sank Friday while traveling between Santo and Ambae with more than 40 passengers and crew, leaving one dead and over 30 missing.
- The vessel departed Friday with more than 40 passengers and crew in very rough seas; Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat's office stated the loss resulted from strong winds and marine warnings not being heeded, possibly including negligence and overloading.
- Flying Doctor Mark Turnbull deployed his aircraft to drop life jackets and locate survivors, helping rescue seven people within 24 hours; fifteen have been accounted for alive and one body recovered.
- Harbour master Terry Ngwele of Luganville told ABC News, "We rescued two people today," while police reported one survivor reached shore on Santo with a diver's assistance; regional coordination from Noumea deployed French Armed Forces aircraft Sunday morning.
- Search efforts are concentrating on the southeast coast where currents may have carried survivors, as coastal communities on the Ambae Islands have been called to assist; one survivor recounted, "We floated to Ambae but the tide was too strong & I swam & until I ended up here .
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(Jakarta=Yonhap News) Correspondent Son Hyun-kyu = It was belatedly reported that a passenger ship sank in the waters off Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation, killing one person and leaving over 30 missing...
Rescue services in the Pacific island group of Vanuatu are searching for at least thirty missing people on board a ferry that sank on Friday between the islands of Ambae and Santo. At least one person has died, the office of Prime Minister Napat announced. There were 47 people on board, fifteen of whom were rescued from the water alive. It has not been disclosed whether these were crew members of the MV Matui or passengers. The exact cause of …
The Toronto Star
More than 30 missing from ferry that sank in Vanuatu
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A search in waters off the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu continued Monday for more than 30 people who officials said were missing after a
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