The father of one of the nine fishermen still missing at sea, Iosefo Balenatuvu says he believes valuable time may have been lost after the group failed to return from a fishing trip to Kadavu, but the Fiji Police Force says action was taken as soon as the matter was reported.
Baleinatuvu says he contacted police on Thursday afternoon after the group failed to return from a fishing trip to Kadavu, but claims he was later told that search efforts could only begin after 48 hours.
He believes the matter should have been treated as an emergency from the moment it was reported, stressing that incidents at sea are life and death situations and require urgent action.
He says if the search had started immediately, there was a chance the men could have been located sooner, especially if they were stranded at sea, floating, or trying to make their way back.
Baleinatuvu says the group left Vatuwaqa Bridge by speedboat at around 2pm Wednesday, heading to the Kadavu waters for a diving trip.
He says his last conversation with his 25-year-old son, Savenaca Sokidi, was on Wednesday morning, when he was told they were heading to Kadavu.
He says he was diving that night near Nanuku and later waited near Nukubuca on Thursday morning, expecting to see the boat return on its usual route.
Baleinatuvu says based on his calculations, the boat should have passed by around 7am, but there was no sign of them.
After returning home and waking up at around lunch time, he realised the group still had not arrived and contacted the boat owner, who was also waiting for them to return.
That was when he said he felt something was seriously wrong and called 917.
He then lodged a report at Totogo Police Station.
The matter was later transferred to Nabua Police Station.
He says he expected search teams to be deployed at sea immediately, but claims he did not see any visible search operations on Friday when he went out with others to look for the missing men.
Baleinatuvu says the families are deeply worried, as all nine men have loved ones depending on them.
He adds the missing group includes his son, his younger brother Osea Vakaruru, who led the trip, relatives Sitiveni Tekivakatini, Mateo Tikoitoga, Esekaia Boladuadua, Lemeki Tikoitoga, Pita Kinikini, Maciu Niubalavu, and his nephew Julian Tavola.
Most of the men are from Nanuku.
Baleinatuvu says weather conditions were rough when they left on Wednesday, and believes strong winds on Thursday morning may have affected their return.
He says the men are experienced at sea and have been diving regularly for almost two years, while he himself has spent more than 20 years diving as a source of income for his family.
In response, the Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Kasiano Vusonilawe says they acted on the report straight away, but had to first coordinate with the Republic of Fiji Navy and assess weather conditions before deploying search teams.
ACP Vusonilawe says they had to seek assistance from the Navy as they do not have the capabilities to search in the open sea.
He says search efforts remain ongoing as authorities continue looking for the missing men.
