Rescuers are searching for more than 30 people who are believed to have been on a ferry that sank off the coast of Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation. The incident happened on Friday and has already claimed at least two lives. Local news outlet VBTC reported that two bodies were recovered from the sea and coastline near the suspected location of the sinking, along with 14 survivors. The vessel, named MV Matui, was believed to have carried 53 people, according to Vanuatu Police Assistant Commissioner David Bongranlie. However, the exact time of the sinking and the circumstances surrounding it remain unclear. Vanuatu police said they were not informed about the missing vessel until 22 hours after it was thought to have gone down. According to Vanuatu's Daily Post, the ferry was not authorized to carry more than 30 passengers and departed without the knowledge of the country's Maritime Safety Authority. The company that owned the ferry, Tui Shipping, was de-registered from Vanuatu's business register in June. In a statement to VBTC, Tui Shipping expressed sympathy for those affected and acknowledged its responsibility for passenger safety, but did not provide any details about the incident. Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat announced that he would cancel a planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to address the disaster. He said there are many questions that need answers and solutions. The government admitted that the situation might have been avoided if all responsible authorities had been more alert. Napat suggested that the ferry might have sunk due to "negligence, including overloading of the vessel," and that marine warnings were ignored. The country's meteorological service had issued a warning about strong winds and high seas on the day the ferry sailed. While Napat referred to the event as a "tragedy" and an "incident," he has not used the word "sinking." Local news outlets reported that the ferry sank, citing police sources. On Sunday, the maritime search and rescue agency from neighboring New Caledonia said it was coordinating an air and sea search for survivors and bodies. The agency reported that 37 people were still missing. Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands, is located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,750 kilometers east of northern Australia.