Police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the capsizing of a boat carrying seven people in the Koro Sea on Saturday.

Information has now emerged that some of the passengers and the captain who were in the fibre glass boat that went missing over the weekend, were allegedly drinking alcohol.

Fijivillage has received confirmation that one of the survivors has alleged to the Police that some of the people were drinking and a fight broke out on the vessel late Saturday afternoon.

It has been alleged that the boat was already taking in water due to rough seas and the situation worsened when the fight broke out resulting in at least one person falling over. 

Moments later the boat also capsized and the passengers and the boat captain were thrown into the rough seas.

The group on the boat included the captain and a crew member, a school teacher and 4 PWD workers. 

They left Levuka on Saturday morning. 

The seven were supposed to reach Batiki village at around 1pm however they did not reach their destination.

Police and the Fiji Navy then activated the search.

Two people swam to shore - one to Natokalau while the other to Yanuca Lailai while the captain was picked up by the MV Vatulawa.

Four people are still missing and the search continues for them. 
 
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said investigations are now underway after one of the survivors gave his statement to the police. 


Naisoro said the allegation in relation to the fight on board is also being investigated.

Meanwhile, 51-year-old Filipe Koroi who was one the three survivors told Fijivillage that he was double minded when he saw other passengers allegedly drinking.

Koroi said it is a blessing to be alive after such a horrific incident.

Koroi alleged that just after a few hours when they left Levuka, a fight broke out between the four that were drinking and at the same time they were facing a tough time in bailing out water from the boat.

When the boat capsized, Koroi and another man had a floating material that helped them to reach land and the last words he told the four was to stay together.


Story by: Vijay Narayan & Rusiate Baleilevuka