Patrol boat RVS Takuare run aground on a reef off Tomali Village, South Epi last night.

The incident happened around 9pm only a few hours after the Internal Affairs Minister and his delegation disembarked around 5:30pm.

While the cause of the incident is still unknown, Director General of Internal Affairs, Leith Veremaito, told VBTC News that a tugboat and the RVS Sokomanu are on their way to assist.

The Australian funded Guardian Glass Patrol boat returned to Vanuatu March this year after extensive repairs and internal refit following catastrophic damage sustained during Cyclone Kevin in 2023.

RVS Takuare is on a week-long tour where the Minster Andrew Napuat is expected to officiate the launching of the Yarsu Area Council new Office building at Tomali before traveling up North to Malampa Province.