Dive team finds sunken ferry in Tonga

11:08, 12 August 2009

WELLINGTON. August 12. KAZINFORM A Tongan ferry which sank last week is believed to have been found by a dive team searching the area where its last emergency beacon was located, New Zealand media reported on Wednesday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

Police in Tonga told a press conference held in Nuku'alofa on Wednesday that divers found what appears to be the ferry at about 11:00 a.m. New Zealand time (23:00 GMT Tuesday).

But police said that though the position fits and sonar readings match the vessel's general size and shape, they have no visual sighting of it yet.

Lieutenant Commander Andrew McMillan said the wreck could be 108-110 meters deep and the maximum depth that New Zealand and Australian navy divers can reach is 60 meters.

More details were expected to be released later in the afternoon.

Two bodies have been recovered but 93 people remain unaccounted for. Authorities believed the bodies are trapped in the ferry.

The Princess Ashika ferry sank last week about 86 km northwest of the capital Nuku'alofa, en route to the Nomuka Islands group, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.

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