New Zealand’s Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, reported that all 75 people aboard the ship were safely evacuated on life rafts amid challenging conditions and darkness. The vessel, located about a mile from shore, hit a reef and started taking on water. It took the first survivors five hours to reach land.

New Zealand says it has rescued all 75 crew and passengers from a wrecked navy vessel that ran aground and sank off Samoa while conducting a reef survey.