A Vanuatu MP says it took more than 30 hours for a boat search to begin after an inter-island ferry sank in rough seas, saying more lives might have been saved if information about the incident had been provided sooner.
The MV Matui was carrying 45 people when it sank between the islands of Santo and Ambae on Friday morning.
Luganville MP Matai Seremaiah said the vessel left Santo at 6am (local time) and sank at about 9.30am.
“What we now know is that the vessel capsized at 9.30am.”
But Seremaiah said those on the ground did not begin their own search until about 4pm on Saturday – more than 30 hours after the vessel sank.
He said there was confusion and misinformation about what had happened, including reports the vessel was drifting.
“We were awaiting for coordinates, but nothing came through until one of surviving crew swarm ashore and alerted us that the ship has capsized.”
Seremaiah said the government had conducted aerial searches because it believed the ship was still adrift.
“We were not given any instructions at the time, and in the end, I and, other people went out to search,” he said.
He said a local pilot spotted survivors and provided vessels with the coordinates needed for the rescue.
The Vanuatu government said 15 people have been accounted for alive and one body has been recovered, with more than 30 people still missing at sea.
Seremaiah said the 15 survivors had been taken to the main hospital in Luganville.
He said another body was spotted but could not be recovered because of bad weather.
The delayed search was made more difficult by rough conditions, Seremaiah said.
“Yesterday, during the search, the weather was really bad, swells were up to 2.5 to 3 metres, and again, because we left late, 4pm yesterday, and only a few hours before dark set in, it made it really difficult with the weather conditions.”
Families of people who were on the ferry have gathered in Santo seeking answers, he said.
Seremaiah said many of those who went out to search were private citizens.
The Vanuatu government has said an investigation will examine why the vessel sailed despite strong marine wind warnings issued by the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazard Department on Friday.
Prime Minister’s public relations officer Kiery Mannaseh told local broadcaster VBTC News the government was concerned the vessel had not heeded the warnings.
The government has said the sinking appeared to have resulted from strong winds and marine warnings not being heeded, with possible negligence including overloading of the vessel.
Mannaseh said the government would prioritise search and rescue before conducting its investigation.
The government has thanked private vessels and others involved in the rescue operation and said it would strengthen search and rescue mechanisms to better respond to future incidents.
