A 22-year-old woman from Tokomololo has died after a boat capsized at sea near the entrance to Faua Wharf yesterday, Tonga Police have confirmed.

Police said the incident occurred in the vicinity of the wharf and that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death are continuing.

The death comes less than two weeks after after another boat capsized during a whale-watching trip off Tongatapu, raising renewed questions about safety and oversight of vessels operating in Tongan waters.

That 21 August incident involved 13 members of an Anglican Church delegation who had chartered two boats for a whale-watching trip. The vessel capsized after reportedly running out of diesel and being hit by heavy swells. Several passengers were reportedly in the water for almost 30 minutes, with reports that many were not wearing lifejackets.

The Ministry of Tourism subsequently confirmed that the vessel involved in that incident had not been licensed or authorised by the Government to conduct whale-watching and swimming operations. The Ministry said it was assessing the available information and would take compliance action where necessary.

It is not known whether the latest incident is connected to the earlier case, and Police have not released details about the vessel, its operator or what caused it to capsize.

Further information is expected as the investigation continues.