An inter-island ferry has sunk off Vanuatu with 45 people aboard. Seven were rescued. Two died. Thirty-eight remain missing.
The MV Matui went down on September 12 while crossing from Ambae island to Espiritu Santo. The vessel carried 34 passengers and 11 crew. Search and rescue teams were sent to the area following the sinking.
Ferries are the main means of transport between Vanuatu's scattered islands. The route between Ambae and Santo is one of the more heavily used inter-island crossings in the country.
MarineRadar data shows a sharp increase in searches for the Vanuatu region in the hours following the incident.
Vanuatu Ferry MV Matui Sinks with 45 Aboard; 38 Missing
Interest over time · MV Matui - VanuatuWho's watching
- NZ59%
- US17%
- GB17%
- VU3%
- FR3%
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