A father is hopeful of finding his daughter after she was swept away by a strong current while swimming near their home on Monday.

Meli Nakabu, 55, who lives in Nalesutale Settlement near Korobebe, in Nadi said: “I hope we will find her body but we’ll have to see.”

His daughter is 18-year-old Valeriana Veivuke, a Sabeto College Year 13 student, originally from Bemana in Nadroga.

Mr Nakabu said he was at home while family members and three of her friends called her for a swim in the river.

“I saw them on the other side and asked why you guys have to swim? Then my son said that my daughter failed to cross to the other side and was swept by the current,” he said.

He said that about 40 people from their settlement including Korobebe Village and Police from Naboutini Police Station were deployed in groups for the search.

When Fiji Sun visited the Sabeto River, a group of villagers and Police were involved in the search party.

“We have been searching the river since yesterday (Monday afternoon) after we heard the news. Even today we have been in five groups in different parts of the river in searching for her body,” said Nemani Rabuku, 42, of Korobebe.

Police spokesperson Naina Ragigia said: “The search for the student is currently underway at Sabeto.”

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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