Six rescued after Lau sea search

Six people reported missing in the Lau Group were rescued tonight after a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft located their vessel just before last night.

The six had left Namuka Island for Fulaga on the morning of August 6 but failed to reach their destination.

A search coordinated by the Fiji Navy and Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji involved vessels in the area and two aircraft — a chartered Northern Air Embraer EMB-110 operating as a Navy search and rescue flight and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8 Poseidon.

The combined air search covered about 4,377 square nautical miles.

The RNZAF P-8 located the distressed vessel at 5.30pm yesterday, about 14.6 nautical miles southwest of Vanuavatu.

The aircraft had conducted a detailed radar search before switching to a visual search and locating the vessel within the designated search area.

Following the sighting, RFNS Savenaca, which was operating near the search area, was immediately diverted to the vessel.

The Navy vessel reached the six people and rescued them shortly after 8pm despite adverse weather conditions.

All six survivors were safe and arrived in Suva for medical assessment before being reunited with their families and loved ones.

The Northern Air aircraft had earlier conducted a thorough search of Yagasa and nearby islands before covering the southern section of the search area.

The Fiji Navy thanked the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand, Northern Air, Fiji Police Force PCCC, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, communities in Fulaga and Namuka, mariners and vessels that assisted with the operation.

The Navy said the operation highlighted the importance of regional partnerships and inter-agency co-operation in saving lives.