Authorities in Tonga Suspend Search for Survivors in Ferry Sinking

Authorities in Tonga have elected to suspend the search for survivors from Wednesday’s ferry sinking after Prime Minister Feleti Sevele declared there was little hope of finding any of the more than 60 missing passengers alive.

According to Tongan officials there were about 119 passengers aboard the Princess Ashika when the vessel sank about 55 miles from the capital Nuku’alofa. There are reports that have suggested the total number of passengers may have been significantly higher as the names of 15 survivors were not listed on the vessel’s passenger list.

There has been no word on what caused the Princess Ashika to sink but the ferry had recently passed safety inspections and was said to be seaworthy. According to survivors who managed to make their way to lifeboats the ship had been rolling in the heavy seas and sank within minutes after taking on water.

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