Emergency search continues for missing medical team

A search is continuing for six members of a medical outreach team who remain missing at sea after their boat failed to reach Lakeba in the Lau Group yesterday.

Police have confirmed that one person has been rescued, while six others remain unaccounted for as search efforts continue.

Health authorities activated the Eastern Command Centre on a 24-hour basis as search efforts entered their second day.

According to an internal situation update, the medical outreach team departed Moce at about 8am yesterday bound for Lakeba but failed to arrive at either Lakeba or Oneata.

Health officials were alerted to the overdue vessel at 12.47pm, triggering an emergency response.

Search efforts are centred near Aiwa, with two boats from Lakeba and one from Oneata combing the area.

"As of the latest update from the Aiwa search team, there have been no sightings or signals from the vessel," the update stated.

Teams at Lakeba Hospital have been placed on standby at both the hospital and the wharf to respond if the missing team is found.

Alerts have also been issued to all eight villages on Lakeba, as well as community leaders on Nayau, Vanua Balavu, Moala and the Lomaloma medical team, urging them to remain vigilant and report any information.

The Eastern Command Centre said the Divisional Head of Infrastructure and Engineering (DHIE) and divisional dental officers remained on night duty as emergency operations continued.

Health officials have appealed for public support and prayers as search teams continue efforts to locate the missing medical workers.

Police are expected to provide further updates as the search continues.

This is a developing story.