Vanuatu Ferry Sinking Raises Questions As Rescue Teams Search For More Than 30 Missing

Questions were growing on Tuesday over the sinking of a passenger ferry off the coast of Vanuatu, as rescuers continued searching for more than 30 people reported missing after the vessel went down on Friday. At least two people have died, while 14 survivors have been rescued, according to local reports citing police. The incident has also raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the ferry's final voyage, including when exactly it sank and why authorities were not informed that the vessel was missing until almost a full day later. Officials are continuing efforts to locate those who remain unaccounted for as the search expands across the sea and nearby coastline.

Vanuatu Police Assistant Commissioner David Bongranlie said the total number of people aboard the vessel was 53, according to local broadcaster VBTC. Based on that figure, and the reported recovery of two bodies and rescue of 14 survivors, more than 30 people remain missing. No additional bodies or survivors were recovered on Monday from the waters or coastline near the area where the MV Matui was believed to have sunk, VBTC reported. The search operation is continuing as authorities attempt to establish the whereabouts of the missing passengers and determine the full scale of the disaster.

The circumstances surrounding the sinking remained unclear on Tuesday. Police said they were not informed that the vessel was missing until 22 hours after it was believed to have sunk, according to comments attributed to Bongranlie by VBTC. The delay has raised questions about how the incident was detected and communicated to authorities. Investigators and rescuers are still working to establish the timeline of events, including when the ferry encountered difficulties, when it went down and how the passengers came to be in the water. The lack of clarity surrounding those details has added to concerns as families await information about people who remain missing.

Also Read: US Faces Munitions Crunch As Iran War Drains Critical Military Weapon Stockpiles

Questions have also emerged about the vessel's passenger capacity and regulatory status. Vanuatu's Daily Post reported that the ferry was not approved to carry more than 30 people and had departed on Friday without the knowledge of the country's Maritime Safety Authority, citing a statement from an agency spokesperson. If confirmed, the reported passenger total of 53 would mean the vessel was carrying substantially more people than the stated approved capacity. The Daily Post also reported that the company that owned the vessel had been de-registered from Vanuatu's business register in June. These details are likely to form part of the scrutiny surrounding the circumstances of the ferry's operation.

Tui Shipping, which owned the boat, issued a statement to VBTC expressing sympathy for those affected by the disaster and acknowledging its responsibility for passenger safety, according to the broadcaster. The company did not provide details about the circumstances of the sinking in the statement. With the investigation still developing and the search for missing people continuing, questions remain about the vessel's departure, the number of passengers aboard and the delay in reporting that it had gone missing. Authorities are expected to examine these issues as they seek to establish what happened before and during the ferry's final journey.

The disaster has also prompted a direct response from Vanuatu's political leadership. The office of Prime Minister Jotham Napat said on social media Tuesday that he would cancel a planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to deal with the ferry disaster. His decision comes as rescue teams continue searching for those still missing and officials face questions over the circumstances surrounding the sinking. With at least two people confirmed dead, 14 survivors rescued and more than 30 people still unaccounted for based on the police figure of 53 aboard, the search remains the immediate priority. Further information is expected as authorities continue efforts to locate survivors and establish the sequence of events surrounding the sinking of the MV Matui.

Also Read: Karnataka Faces Drought in 200 of 239 Taluks, CM Shivakumar Flags Power Crisis