Latest News from Vava'u Island Group, Tonga
17th August 2009
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Princess Ashika sinking
The Princess Ashika, carrying mostly Tonga nationals, sank on 6 August at 11 p.m local time, Thursday (10 a.m. GMT), according to the Rescue Coordination Center in Wellington, NZ. The search was centered about 86 kilometers (53 miles) north of Nuku'alofa, the ministry Web site said.
The ferry was sailing in the Ha'apai group of islands in northern Tonga, the Web site said. She had at least 149 people on board.
Vessels responding to distress calls were on the scene within two hours, said Keith Allen, another spokesman for the New Zealand rescue center.
Two bodies and 54 survivors have been found, while 93 people are presumed drowned after being trapped in the vessel.
Rescuers immediately found survivors in the water and in life rafts. He said 13 life rafts were found, but some of them were empty.
The Tongan government has set up a Royal Commission to investigate the sinking of the Princess Ashika ferry.
A statement from the country's Attorney General says the government is deeply sadden by the accident, and on his advice has ordered an inquiry into the circumstances and causes of the sinking.
The Royal Commission will be chaired by Justice Warwick Andrew, Supreme Court judge in Tonga, and is expected to report back preliminary findings by the end of November.
The government has also asked for the assistance of New Zealand's Transport Accident Investigation Commission, saying Tonga does not have the technical expertise and resources necessary for such an inquiry.
The New Zealand dive squad had planned to send a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) down to the boat, which is sitting 110m underwater, but poor weather delayed that.
"Our depth limit is 50m, we can't get down there with the divers, so the ROV is our only option. Princess Ashika is believed to be sitting at 108m based on the sonar picture.
Royal Tongan Defence Service patrol boats were involved in the search along with MV Southern Lily (Reef Freight container ship), MV Escapade (NZ Private gamefishing boat) from Vava'u also joined the search with a volunteer expat and cruiser crew. The area is now controlled by Nukualofa Police and permission must be granted to enter the area.
The chinese government and businesses in Tonga have donated a large sum towards funeral costs. A fund has been created in Vava'u and several events have now raised over $5000TOP.
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