World · India Bureau
Search continues after ferry sinks near Vanuatu; one confirmed dead
Rescue operations are underway in the South Pacific following the sinking of the MV Matui off the coast of Vanuatu. One person has been confirmed dead, with more than 30 others reported missing.
LSN India ·
Search and rescue teams mobilized quickly after the MV Matui went down with dozens of crew members and passengers aboard. The vessel sank off the coast of Vanuatu, an island nation located approximately 1,750 kilometres east of Australia in the South Pacific region.
Authorities have confirmed one fatality so far, though the exact circumstances surrounding the sinking remain under investigation. The number of those unaccounted for stands at over 30, prompting intensive search efforts across the waters surrounding the incident.
Rescue operations have been continuing as teams work to locate survivors and recover those missing. The incident has highlighted ongoing maritime safety concerns in the Pacific Island region, where ferry services remain a critical mode of transportation connecting scattered island communities.
Vanuatu's authorities have appealed for assistance from regional partners as the search operation expands. Conditions at sea and the remote location of the incident have posed challenges to recovery efforts, though rescuers remain committed to locating all those unaccounted for.