The Navy Rescue Coordination Centre and Fiji Police Force have suspended search operations as the window of search and rescue operations has closed due to the approaching inclement weather but will continue to monitor the situation for any new leads.
This has been confirmed by the Commander of the Fiji Navy, Captain Humphrey Tawake who says the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre has been conducting a joint search and rescue operation for the 7 missing persons that left Levuka in a fibreglass boat bound for Gau Island on Boxing Day.
The seven that are missing are Adriu George, Alipate Ross, Navitalai Bale, Ananaiasa Koroi, Filimoni Tuisinu, Josevata Bolakateu and Livai Bulimaibau.
#SAR (MISPER) At 0820h this morning, the decision has been made to suspend search operations for 07 missing persons
— FMSRCC (@fmsrcc) December 30, 2018
An area of 5,000sq km has been covered over 4 days by air, marine & ground teams
The FMSRCC & Fiji Police Force will continue to monitor the case#Fiji #TeamFiji pic.twitter.com/yxAVl7Z29k
Captain Tawake says that since no occupant on the boat carried any form of communications or distress beacon, an area of 5,000 square kilometres across Bau and Lomaiviti waters was covered by a Navy search and rescue flight team, the Navy patrol boat Kikau and Fiji Police Force over a 4-day period.
He says in coordination with the Fiji Airports Limited aeronautical rescue centre, a Notice to Airmen was also issued to any aircraft flying over the search area to maintain watch and the Fiji Navy maintained a broadcast to all mariners in the area to keep a watch.
Captain Tawake says that 2 days into the search and rescue operation, the Navy search and rescue flight spotted a target matching the description of the missing boat near Moturiki Island.
He says following this discovery, the search teams focused their search in Bau waters with no further sighting.
