Injured Australian tourists have been airlifted from Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila to Brisbane, after a road accident involving two buses in Port Vila.
Two locals were left dead in yesterday’s accident and 12 P&O Cruises guests sustained injury, 10 of which are believed to have been severe enough to require air ambulance evacuation to Noumea and Brisbane.
P&O spokesperson, David Jones, told the ABC that passengers are receiving “excellent care in Vanuatu”, but due to the extent of the accident the cruise line thought it best to “airlift our guests back to Noumea for specialist care there or back to Brisbane for specialist care”.
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“It’s fair to say that the Australian passengers were receiving excellent care in Vanuatu, but this is a very big event for Port Vila, so we thought the best way to deal with the situation was to airlift our guests back to Noumea for specialist care there or back to Brisbane for specialist care.”
David Jones, P&O Spokesperson
P&O said in an online statement that it had contacted the families of all injured passengers and expressed its condolences to the families of the Ni Van locals who passed away.
“We are also receiving strong consular support both in Port Vila and in Noumea as this operation continues.”
P&O Cruises Statement
“We thank our other guests who are currently on Pacific Dawn and have expressed their concern for their fellow guests. The Captain is updating them on developments.”
According to local reports, the tour bus with Australians on board was returning from a trip to Ekasup Cultural Village when the collision occurred.
Pacific Dawn will remain in Port Vila until medical transfers are complete, which is expected to be around noon today.
