The Tui Macuata, Ratu Aisea Katonivere has passed away.
His body was found yesterday in the Macuata waters after their boat capsized on Thursday night.
The chiefly household has confirmed that his body is at the Labasa hospital mortuary.
Fijivillage received confirmation from the Police Search and Rescue Centre that at about 2pm on Thursday, Ratu Aisea Katonivere, Ratu Peni Vulaca and a Vereniki, all of Naduri village, went fishing in a fibre glass boat and were supposed to return yesterday morning.
At about 2.45 yesterday morning, a fisherman from Siberia, Labasa, Chandra Deo rescued Vulaca and Vereniki after he saw them waving and shouting in the Macuata waters.
However, the Tui Macuata was nowhere to be seen.
His body was found floating earlier yesterday.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
