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.

Samoa’s deputy prime minister says there's no evidence of a major fuel spill on a Samoan reef after a New Zealand navy ship sank.

Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic dive and survey ship HMNZS Manawanui (A09) sank on Sunday after running aground off the southern coast of the island of Upolu, Samoa. The ship ran aground on Saturday evening while on a survey mission in the area.