The Fiji Police Force is urging small boat operators to pay close attention to weather conditions before heading out to sea. This advisory comes after an incident where Navua Police responded to a distress signal received yesterday afternoon. A large wave caused a fiberglass boat, carrying two individuals, to capsize near the Navua passage.
Officers from the Navua Police Station were dispatched on the FB Navua to assist in search and rescue operations, successfully rescuing the boat captain and a 17-year-old boy. The capsized vessel was later recovered and returned to the captain after both individuals received medical treatment at Navua Hospital.
Assistant Commissioner of Police – Operations (ACP) Livai Driu expressed relief that no lives were lost in this incident. He emphasized the importance of small boat operators monitoring weather reports closely and making safety a top priority in their decisions.