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2009
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Sunday 9 August 2009 5:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The number of missing from the MV Princess Ashika ferry sinking continues to grow, with 93 persons unaccounted for today, and only two bodies recovered. ANZ navy divers returned to the location today in a continuing search for the sunken vessel on a hilly seabed at depths of up to 100 meters in Ha'apai waters.
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Sunday 9 August 2009 2:02pm
New Zealand : It is with sadness to watch on the television about the catastrophic incident that happened to the Ashika at Ha'afeva that caused many lives missing. Our prayer, love, and condolences goes to all families in Tonga, UK, and Japan who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. We pray that God's peace and blessing be with you all and God's grace and love abiding, too, may guide you all in this time of sorrow. May our heavenly father can comfort all families, kainga, villages, and churches also give everyone strength to withstand and stand shoulder-to-shoulder and support during this time of grieving. - Viliami T Tiseli -
Sunday 9 August 2009 12:45pm
Tauranga, New Zealand : Can you give me any more info about the ferry that picked up survivors and how we now find our friends? - Lucy Goodchap Premium content -
Sunday 9 August 2009 11:44am
Sacramento,California, USA : I know that this is not the time to point finger and ask who is responsible for inspecting this vessel (Princess Ashika) before allowing it to service my people? To that person and to that department who allows for this vessel to operate in the Kingdom of Tonga are fully responsible for this tragedy. - PK -
Sunday 9 August 2009 10:30am
Auckland, New Zealand : I am 'Ofa Moala wife of Katalimoni Finau Moala the policeman who was traveling in the Ferry that sunk. I lived in NZ with one daughter, 4yrs old next month, and my eldest daughter who came from Tonga with her husband, and one son, our grandson to visit mum. - ‘Ofa Moala Premium content -
Saturday 8 August 2009 3:30pm
Tauranga,New Zealand : I am looking for our two friends who were backpacking in Tonga, and were planning on traveling to Vava'u by ferry. If anybody has seen or heard from them, please could you ask them to phone Bruce & Lucy in New Zealand, 0064 75447113. - Lucy Goodchap Premium content -
Saturday 8 August 2009 11:52am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The number of people missing in Tonga's Ashika ferry disaster has grown to 85 today. Premium content -
Saturday 8 August 2009 2:43am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The MV Princess Ashika was taking in water faster than the crew could bail it out, when a large wave struck and the ferry overturned, sinking almost instantly, a survivor, Viliami Latu Mohenoa (32) told Matangi Tonga Online this afternoon, July 7. By Linny Folau Premium content -
Saturday 8 August 2009 12:33am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : There was a mixture of joy and sadness at the Fua'amotu domestic airport when 32 of the 53 survivors from MV Princess Ashika ferry sinking returned to Tongatapu on a Chatham Airline flight at 1.30 pm today. Photos by Linny Folau and Pesi Fonua. Premium content -
Friday 7 August 2009 2:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Navy divers from New Zealand and Australia have been asked to come into Tonga to reach the sunken ferry MV Princess Ashika that is lying in over 36m (100 feet) of water, possibly holding the bodies of dozens of trapped victims. Premium content -
Friday 7 August 2009 1:53pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Tonga Police are currently coordinating a major maritime search and rescue operation in the Ha'apai Group of islands in Tonga. -
Friday 7 August 2009 1:32pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Police and emergency services trying to verify the passenger list of the MV Princess Ashika disaster have the following 24 hour telephone hotlines for information. -
Friday 7 August 2009 12:42pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A total of 62 people are missing at sea and this number may grow, said Police Commander Chris Kelley, this morning, as there is great difficulty in trying to reconcile passenger figures after the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Ha'apai waters late on August 5. Premium content -
Thursday 6 August 2009 10:41pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A total of 55 people are accounted for but an unconfirmed number are still missing at sea after the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Ha'apai, waters last night, and now nearly 24 hours after the disaster families in Tonga and abroad are trying to come to terms with their losses. Premium content -
Thursday 6 August 2009 2:46pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Rescued from the sea, a young Ha'afeva man Siaosi Lavaka said that he saw one body recovered and that only the men had reached the lifeboats after the MV Princess Ashika was overturned by heavy seas around midnight last night. He fears that all the women and children went down with the boat. Premium content -
Thursday 6 August 2009 2:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Of the 96 people who left Nuku'alofa on board the MV Princess Ashika, yesterday, according to the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. list released at around midday today, the known survivors include 27 crew and 23 passengers, at this early stage thought to be all male. Premium content -
Thursday 6 August 2009 9:11am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's passenger ferry MV Princess Ashika sank at sea shortly after midnight last night, with 80 people on board. A major search and rescue operation is underway looking for about 36 missing crew and passengers, while the 44 believed rescued are being taking to Ha'afeva by the MV Pulupaki the first rescue vessel to reach the scene. Breaking News... Premium content -
Thursday 6 August 2009 12:30am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : HM King George Tupou V celebrated his 61st birthday, officially on Saturday, August 1, with a luncheon at the Royal Palace following a military parade at Pangai Lahi. Photos by Linny Folau and Pat Car Premium content -
Wednesday 5 August 2009 10:56pm
Port Vila, Vanuatu : The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) continues to struggle to establish itself as a champion of Media Freedom in the Pacific Islands. Premium content -
Wednesday 5 August 2009 10:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Success at the top level of Rugby League has come from self-determination and hard work, says 'Isileli Folau, an Australian Rugby League star, who joined his family for a return visit to Tonga recently. Premium content
