Story perspectives

Negligence Probe Launched After MV Matui Sinks, 30 Missing

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 10:12 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Napat Announces Ferry Disaster

Prime Minister Jotham Napat announced one death and over 30 missing after MV Matui sank.
The ferry carried 47 people from Santo to Ambae.
Fifteen passengers and crew remain alive while one body has been recovered.
Searches are shifting to the southeast coast as currents may have moved survivors.
Authorities opened a negligence investigation of Tui Shipping Agency, receiving help from Noumea’s rescue centre and a French aircraft.

Summary

June Aster Explodes

A survivor reported that the MV June Aster exploded.
The explosion ignited a fire that spread within seconds.
Strong currents moved the burning ferry up to 7.68 nautical miles, hampering rescue.
The ferry held capacity for 306 passengers and 27 crew but carried only 134 people.
Coron faced potential tourism setbacks after the disaster.

History

Historical Context

In April 1912 the British liner RMS Titanic sank, killing about 1,500 of the 2,224 aboard and spurring U.S. and British inquiries that led to the 1914 SOLAS treaty. Vanuatu’s this year MV Matui and MV June Aster capsizes exposed overloaded ferries and poor inspections, prompting the government to adopt SOLAS-style rules and tighten oversight of operators such as Tui Shipping Agency.

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Napat Announces Ferry Disaster

Prime Minister Jotham Napat announced one death and over 30 missing after MV Matui sank.
The ferry carried 47 people from Santo to Ambae.
Fifteen passengers and crew remain alive while one body has been recovered.
Searches are shifting to the southeast coast as currents may have moved survivors.
Authorities opened a negligence investigation of Tui Shipping Agency, receiving help from Noumea’s rescue centre and a French aircraft.

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