Search efforts for the missing nine fishermen took a tragic turn today after their fibreglass boat was located semi-submerged in waters just south of Vunaniu Bay, with no survivors found.
In a statement, the Fiji Navy confirmed that while debris had been sighted earlier during the ongoing search, a mariner from Beach House in Vunaniu Bay discovered the partially submerged boat this afternoon.
Authorities have since verified it as the vessel reported missing.
Family members have been informed of the development.
The Navy says, given the time elapsed since the search began last Thursday and the condition of the vessel, operations have now transitioned from search and rescue to search and recovery.
Today’s operations were supported by Northern Air’s fixed-wing aircraft DQ-NAS and Joyce Aviation’s rotary-wing aircraft DQ-MED, which assisted in covering the designated search area.
