The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) confirmed yesterday that a vessel became stranded at sea on Saturday night, prompting secondary school students to leap overboard in an attempt to swim to safety.
MSAF’s CEO, Joeli Cawaki, stated that the organization is investigating the incident to determine the cause and prevent similar events from happening in the future.
“We are conducting a thorough investigation to understand what led to the vessel’s predicament,” Cawaki said. He noted that staff members on Taveuni have been contacted to compile a report on the incident.
“We cannot confirm the exact cause at this time, but we are examining all potential factors, including mechanical issues, navigation errors, and weather conditions,” he added. Cawaki became aware of the incident on Saturday night and plans to reach out to a Catholic priest in Wairiki for more information. Additionally, they will consult the vessel’s owner regarding the mishap.
Initial findings suggest that at least 60 secondary school students from a school on Taveuni were on board when the incident transpired. Cawaki emphasized that all boats providing public services must have life jackets and rafts available for passengers in case of emergencies.
He assured that further details would emerge as the investigation progresses. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro expressed concern yesterday over the lack of a report regarding the incident.