Vanuatu authorities have been searching for survivors after an inter-island ferry carrying 34 passengers and 11 crew members sank in rough weather on Friday.
ABC Pacific reports that seven people have been rescued, with an estimated 38 still unaccounted for, as boats and a Flying Doctor plane search for more survivors, 24 hours after the vessel sank in the north of the country.
Police told national broadcaster VBCTC that the MV Matui sank in rough seas on Friday while sailing between the islands of Ambae and Santo.
Police said one survivor made it to shore on the island of Santo, where a diver took him to the local community for help.
A video showing the man, named Jefferson, covered in a blanket and being offered a cup of hot tea, has been widely shared on social media.
There have also been calls for communities along the coast of Ambae to keep an eye out for possible survivors and assist as the search continues.
Former Foreign Minister Matai Seremaiah, who was aboard the vessel LC Mahalia, rescued a number of survivors.
He posted on Facebook that two additional survivors had been spotted by a plane, although darkness made their retrieval difficult.
Flying Doctor Mark Turnbull used his plane to drop life jackets and helped locate survivors for rescue vessels.
Terry Ngwele, harbour master of Luganville on the island of Santo, who was aboard another rescue vessel, said the search would continue tomorrow.
He told ABC News that they rescued two people today.
