Friday, 18 October 2024, 5:16 pm Press Release: New Zealand Defence Force
Preparation work has started to float, then tow
three 10-foot containers from the reef to the shore, which
involves a local contractor, ARK Marine.
Two of the
containers are empty and the third contains around 3 tonnes
of food. They are moving with tides and swells and they pose
an environmental risk
The work, which has been
approved by Samoan government officials, is dependent on the
weather and sea conditions and could take at least three
days. The work is planned to start tomorrow.
On
Thursday, Senior National Representative Commodore Andrew
Brown, as well as the New Zealand High Commissioner and
other New Zealand officials, attended a public meeting with
about 120 locals from across the Safata district, which is
most affected by the sinking.
The NZDF and its
partner agencies, with the backing of the New Zealand
Government, are doing everything we can to mitigate any
possible impacts on the
environment.
