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At least one person has died, and more than 30 remain missing after a ferry sank off the coast of Vanuatu, the government said on Sunday.
The MV Matui left the island of Santo on Friday carrying more than 40 passengers and crew bound for Ambae Island, but failed to arrive after encountering very rough seas.
The office of Prime Minister Jotham Napat said one body had been recovered, while 15 people who were on board had been accounted for alive.
The alarm was raised on Saturday afternoon after a diver working at a hotel on Santo spotted a man floating in a life jacket and brought him ashore.
Hotel owner Ashley Beveridge told AFP that he realised the man was a survivor from the missing ferry after his employee arrived carrying him. Authorities were subsequently alerted. The survivor, identified as Jeffson, said the ferry had sunk on Friday morning.
Beveridge said Jeffson had spent the day and night in the water before reaching an inhabited area, describing his condition when he was found as cold, pale and severely wrinkled from prolonged exposure to the water.
Local cargo ship owners, including a politician, a doctor with an aircraft and a private medical assistance vessel, began searching for survivors on Saturday afternoon.
Local media reported that survivors were being taken to a hospital on Santo Island.
Napat’s office assumed control of the maritime search on Sunday afternoon after the Prime Minister earlier expressed frustration over difficulties reaching senior officials.
In its statement, the Prime Minister’s office said more than 30 people remained missing at sea, in addition to the person confirmed dead and the 15 survivors who had been accounted for.
The government said search and rescue operations were continuing while extending its condolences to families who had lost loved ones. An investigation into possible negligence has also been launched.
The Prime Minister’s office said preliminary concerns included strong winds, marine warnings that may not have been followed and possible negligence involving overloading of the vessel
“Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones. Search and rescue operations are continuing,” the statement read.
“This loss appears to be the result of strong winds and marine warnings not being heeded, and possibly of negligence including overloading of the vessel,” the statement added.
Beveridge, an Australian who has lived in Vanuatu for eight years, said authorities had initially believed the ferry was adrift before Jeffson was found. He also said the community was frustrated by how long it took for the rescue operation to begin.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea, New Caledonia, said it was assisting with the search, while a French Armed Forces aircraft was deployed on Sunday morning.
