Severe weather forced the Samoa Shipping Corporation to cancel ferry services on Monday, leaving many passengers stranded in Savai’i.

Early bad weather conditions led to the ferry’s cancellation and left many unable to make it to Upolu in time for the start of the working week.

In a public statement issued by the Corporation, the travelling public was notified of the sudden disruption to services.

"We wish to advise the travelling Public between Mulifanua and Salelologa that all our [sailing] for today, Monday 14th December 2020 are now cancelled due to bad weather conditions at the present," a statement made on their social media page read. 

"We will keep you informed on further [updates]."

The bad weather is a result of a Tropical Depression which was located at about 364 kilometres south-southwest of Falease’ela at 2:00 am Monday morning. 

While the mass continues to move towards Tonga, a convergence zone linked with the Tropical Depression lingers over Samoa causing heavy rainfall with strong and gusty winds.

Monday’s cancellation comes after bad weather conditions cancelled ferry trips between Savai'i and Upolu last Wednesday.

That led to the cancellation of a scheduled Cabinet trip to Savai'i for the official opening of infrastructure projects. 

The roads for the villages of Tafua, Satuiatua, Vaisala, Salimu, Lu'ua, Sapigi, and Safua were scheduled to be officially opened last Thursday and Friday.

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, confirmed during his programme on Wednesday that the Cabinet had to cancel the trip to Savai'i. But there has not been a scheduled replacement date for the Cabinet Development Committee to make a visit to the big island.