Three surviving crew members of the ill-fated FV Tiro II that sank in waters off Sigatoka last week have been released by police.
Police spokesperson Savaira Tabua said one of the men was released last night, and the other two, this morning. Tabua did not reveal further details only saying that investigations continue.
Five other crew members, including three Indonesian nationals, who reportedly jumped overboard last Monday, 17 May, remain missing.
Documents provided by the Fiji Navy showed that the vessel was listed as owned by Green Tuna Fisheries Company Ltd and departed for the trip on 8 May 2021 with an eight-member crew including the three survivors, including Tevita Kanawale and Kaminieli Tuicama and Mitieli Cama.
Late Thursday afternoon, 20 May, a search and rescue team involving Fiji Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force and LifeFlight Fiji located one of the survivors who was onboard a liferaft. The other two survivors had remained onboard the FV Tiro II and were picked up early on Friday morning by a partner fishing vessel Sam Weon 11. FV Tiro 2 reportedly sank the same morning. The circumstances that led to its demise will be investigated, Fiji Navy had said.
Photo: Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji
