Pictures contradict what owners say

Police investigations are expected to start regarding the Bawaqa boat taking in water near Viwa Island yesterday morning forcing passengers to abandon ship.

Meanwhile, although the owners of the vessel said it is normal procedure to beach the vessel when its starts taking in water, pictures received by Fijivillage from Viwa Island, showed that the boat is lopsided with the middle part of the boat under water.

In defence, Ba Provincial Holdings Executive and former Ambassador to China, Luke Ratuvuki and Captain Pita Cokomata yesterday said the boat did not run aground and was not sinking as claimed by the passengers who were onboard early yesterday morning.

However, the pictures sent by villagers from Viwa show pieces of timber were thrown into the sea, the boat is one sided and underwater with a big white container on the deck.

28 year old Adi Koila Qoro, who was on the boat with her husband and 8 year old daughter, said the water was coming into the boat when they left Waya Island at 2am yesterday and they were counting their lucky stars this all happened during the day, near Viwa Island and not out at open sea.

Qoro said they all did not want to think of what would have happened had it been in the middle of the night and at open sea.