A Samoan man said oil from the sunk HMNZS Manawanui was identifiable along the coast for several kilometres which would have a "massive impact".

The Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui has sunk off the coast of Samoa after running aground on a reef. The 75 passengers and crew were evacuated into life rafts after the incident on Saturday night - a move that authorities say likely prevented loss of life.

A New Zealand Navy ship has capsized off Samoa after running aground and catching fire. All 75 crew of the HMNZS Manawanui were rescued, with two people taken to hospital. The ship, which is based in Gisborne was conducting a survey. The Royal New Zealand Navy said in a statement the ship was one nautical mile from shore.

A New Zealand navy ship carrying 75 crew members and passengers has caught fire and sunk off Samoa, but all onboard are safe, the New Zealand Defence Force said on Sunday. The Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui ran aground near the southern coast of Upolu Island in Samoa while conducting a reef survey.

New Zealand’s Navy lost its first ship since World War II after the HMNZS Manawanui sank on a reef off the coast of Samoa on Sunday creating a potential environmental disaster in waters used for fishing and tourism.