The unforgettable journey " Based on true story "

“In Memory of the Victims of MV Butiraoi — Lost to the Pacific Ocean.”Based on the Video"

The warm light of the candle reflects across the sea, symbolizing remembrance and resilience. Faded portraits of Kiribati faces and the silhouette of the sinking vessel remind viewers of the courage and humanity behind the tragedy.

" Based on real story "
🌊 MV Butiraoi — The Voyage That Should Have Never Been
In January 2018, the wooden twin‑hull passenger ferry MV Butiraoi departed from Nonouti Island, bound for Betio, Tarawa — a journey of nearly 150 kilometers across the vast Pacific. On board were 89 passengers and 13 crew, families, students, and workers returning home after the holidays. The sea was rough, the weather warnings were clear, but the voyage went ahead.

The vessel was damaged and overloaded, carrying heavy cargo — copra, fuel drums, even a motorbike. Its radio was silent, its emergency beacon unused. Hours into the journey, the storm struck. Waves rose like walls, rain poured sideways, and the wooden beams began to crack. Then came the breaking point — the cross‑beam snapped, and the ferry split apart.

In the chaos, lifeboats overturned, life jackets were scarce, and the ocean swallowed the vessel whole. For days, survivors drifted — clinging to debris, barrels, and a single liferaft — under the burning sun and cold rain. On the seventh day, a fishing vessel spotted them. Seven survived. Dozens were lost.

Видео The unforgettable journey " Based on true story " канала Kiribati Music Passion