A 23 year old villager of Koro Island is the latest drowning victim.

Assistant Police Spokesperson Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said the villager went out spear diving with some of his friends yesterday afternoon.

After a while his friends discovered him missing.

A search was conducted and his body was found a few meters away.

A post mortem is expected to be conducted on Tuesday.

The drowning toll for this year is now 16 compared to 21 during the same period last year.