Cruise ship strikes reef near Tom Hanks' iconic 'Cast Away' island, sparking rescue at sea

A tiny cruise vessel struck a reef adjacent the land wherever the Tom Hanks' movie "Cast Away" was filmed — and the relation has present shed airy connected what led to the incident.

The April 4 collision occurred erstwhile 1 of its vessels deed a digit reef adjacent Monuriki Island successful Fiji during worsening upwind conditions, according to Blue Lagoon Cruises.

"While the probe is successful its aboriginal stages, conditions upon the vessel anchoring successful the country were calm, and it appears a terrible squall caused the ship’s anchor to resistance toward a adjacent reef whereby the vessel became grounded," Blue Lagoon Cruises said successful a connection shared with Fox News Digital.

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"The effect clip disposable for unit was limited," the relation added.

Blue Lagoon Cruises said astir 30 passengers were connected committee astatine the time. Citing Fiji Navy sources, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported the vas was besides carrying astir 30 unit members.

Blue Lagoon Cruises struck a reef and needed an exigency evacuation adjacent the land utilized for filming the beloved Tom Hanks "Cast Away" film. (20th Century-Fox/ Getty Images)

Around dawn, a ample high-speed ferry arrived alongside the vas to assistance with the evacuation.

All guests and non-essential unit disembarked with their luggage and idiosyncratic belongings, according to Blue Lagoon Cruises.

Passengers were transported backmost to Port Denarau, wherever Blue Lagoon Cruises arranged edifice accommodations, on with alternate activities and experiences, the institution said.

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No injuries were reported among guests oregon crew.

In caller years, respective reef groundings person led to exigency rescues. 

In 2025, the expedition vessel Coral Adventurer struck a reef disconnected Papua New Guinea, leaving astir 80 passengers stranded for days, according to reporting by Cruise Passenger and an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation.

The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, grossed implicit $429 cardinal worldwide. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

In 2024, a New Zealand naval vas grounded connected a reef adjacent Samoa, caught fire, and sank, requiring evacuation of each crew, according to a New Zealand Defense Force inquiry. 

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Monuriki Island is simply a small, uninhabited land successful Fiji’s Mamanuca archipelago. 

It is known for its achromatic sandy beaches, rocky cliffs and dense tropical vegetation, surrounded by h2o and coral reefs.

Monuriki Island is known for its achromatic sandy beaches, rocky cliffs and dense tropical vegetation. (iStock)

Its remote, untouched scenery made it a cleanable filming determination for the 2000 movie "Cast Away," starring Tom Hanks.

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Since the film’s release, Monuriki has go a fashionable day-trip destination, often informally called "Castaway Island" (not to beryllium confused with a adjacent edifice land with that name).

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Despite its fame, it remains undeveloped with nary imperishable residents. 

Visitors travel to hike, snorkel and research filming spots similar the celebrated "Wilson" beach.