Vanuatu ferry sinking leaves one dead, over 30 missing

One person is dead and more than 30 people are missing after the MV Matui ferry sank off Vanuatu, Prime Minister Jotham Napat's office said on Sunday.

The vessel had left Santo on Friday for Ambae island with more than 40 passengers and crew in very rough seas, but did not arrive.

The prime minister's office said 15 people on board had been accounted for alive and one body had been recovered. It said search and rescue operations were continuing.

An investigation into potential negligence has been launched. The prime minister's office said the loss appeared to involve strong winds, marine warnings not being heeded and possible negligence, including overloading of the vessel.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea, New Caledonia, said it was helping with the search. It said a French Armed Forces aircraft was deployed on Sunday morning and that 12 people were located that morning.

Matai Seremaiah, the member of parliament for Luganville who is assisting in the search, said efforts would focus on the southeast coast, where currents may have carried survivors.