The authorities in Haʻapai islands have called off the search for a 3-year-old boy still missing after Saturday’s boat collision in Haʻafeva.
Police have identified the boy as Saimone Vaea.
Her 5-year-old sister who was hospitalised after the accident was identified as Manu Tapu.
The boy and his sister were among the passengers of a boat from ‘O’ua who fell into the sea after they realised their boat was about to crash into the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa while the ferry was unloading in the deep water at Ha’afeva.
The boat which was belonged to the Free Wesleyan Church of ‘O’ua reportedly smashed into the ferry’s loading end at about 5.07am and capsized.
The sister and the rest of the passengers were rescued while the boy could not be found.
One report says the passengers including the siblings’ parents jumped off the boat when it became clear it could crash into the ferry, a move many believed it helped avoid a collision that may have put many passengers’ lives at risk.
