TWO men died on board a fuel tanker, the MV Punalei, berthed at Pangai, Ha'apai yesterday afternoon, after it is believed they were overcome by poisonous fumes while cleaning empty fuel tanks.

Ha'apai police today confirmed the deaths had occurred on board the vessel and named the men as Takilesi Uata and Ula Tu'ionetoa. Takilesi is a son of 'Uliti Uata, the Ha'apai No. 1 People's Representative to the Tongan Parliament. Both men were working on the boat.

The vessel owned by Uata Shipping, was due to leave for Fiji, and regularly carries benzene fuel, diesel and oil between Fiji and Ha'apai.

Sgt Tonga 'Onevai of the Tonga Navy in Ha'apai, who supervised the recovery of the bodies, said that at 5:30pm yesterday he noticed a commotion on the wharf. He went on board the MV Punalei a small tanker that carries fuel. He looked down and could see two men were lying inside the tank and they looked as if they had been dead for quite some time. "The fumes coming out of the tank were very strong," he said.

He said the men were getting ready for the MV Punalei to go to Fiji to get some fuel and the normal practice was that when it is empty they open it up for a while before they go inside to prepare for the trip. But he thought that this time they went in while the fumes were strong without protective gear.

He said the recovery effort was difficult but they found some oxygen apparatus on board the ship and were able lower a man into the tank to recover the bodies.

It is understood that the bodies of the two men were being returned to Tongatapu this afternoon on board the MV Pulupaki.