By Angela Beswick and James Murray
The atmosphere in Tonga is tense as local politicians say they tried to stop the Government, controlled by the monarch, from using the Princess Ashika, which sunk yesterday causing the deaths of 64 people.
King George Tupou V has left the kingdom for an extended Scottish holiday - a move that is causing growing frustration in the island nation.
Crowds have gathered in capital Nuku'alofa and eye-witnesses say the situation is becoming dangerous.
"Very large crowds have camped outside the offices (of the shipping company) basically baying for blood," said dive-shop worker Brian Heagney.
MP Alilisi voiced his frustration at the lack of communication over the incident.
"The passage of information in the Kingdom of Tonga is painfully slow so perhaps there are people who are even to this moment in time are not actually aware of their family members are alive or dead," he said.
He says it was well known that the ferry would sink.
Meanwhile, the number of people missing presumed drowned after The Princess Ashika sank off the coast of Tonga has almost doubled amidst confusion over passenger lists.
The Tongan ferry was heading from Nuku’alofa to Ha’afeva when it sank moments after issuing a mayday call.
The ferry has been located, about 86km northeast of Nuku’alofa, in 35m of water.
Authorities say 53 people have been rescued, and two bodies – including one of a New Zealander – have been recovered. They are still unsure how many bodies remain in the water.
The first manifest given to authorities by the shipping company showed 79 passengers were on board the ferry.
However Tongan police commander Chris Kelly said a revised manifest which emerged yesterday showed there were more passengers than initially listed.
Based on the new list, 117 people were on board, meaning 62 passengers are now missing presumed drowned – double the number first thought.
Mr Kelly says he believes there was a third manifest which was in possession of a crew member and therefore lost in the sinking.
He told Radio New Zealand this morning that 12 of those rescued were on the manifest, but another 15 pulled from the water were not.
“That just illustrates the difficulty in these sorts of situations in identifying who was, and who was not, on the boat.”
Authorities were relying on people to report family members they believed were on board the ferry in order to get a better picture of the extent of the recovery operation, Mr Kelly says.
It is thought the original manifest was inaccurate because of the number of crew members’ relatives who may have been travelling for free.
A Royal New Zealand Air force Orion resumed its search for survivors at first light this morning, however Tongan officials fear they may now just be searching for bodies.
Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele held out little hope that any more passengers would be found alive.
"The hopes for the rest are not promising unfortunately," Dr Sevele told New Zealand journalists late last night from the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns, Australia.
The Orion will direct the search of three boats, diverted to help yesterday.
“There is still a significant amount of debris in the water, and we will be targeting those areas,” says New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre search and rescue mission co-ordinator John Dickson.
Dr Sevele has asked New Zealand and Australia to send navy divers to help retrieve bodies.
Women and children had been particularly hard hit by the tragedy.
Most are thought to have died as they were sleeping in cabins below deck when the ferry sank, giving them no chance of escape.
‘Ofa Futtenbeil Likiliki of the Tonga National Centre for Women and Children says it is common for male passengers to stay above deck.
“We assume that is why there are more male survivors,” she says.
It is not yet known what caused the ferry to sink.
It is believed the ferry rolled sharply and sank very quickly. A possibility being considered is that cargo moved, causing the vessel to capsize.
The tragedy has also raised questions about the seaworthiness of the 39-year-old Princess Ashika, which was brought to Tonga for short-term service only.
Dr Sevele said the vessel was tested for seaworthiness and insurance purposes before starting its Tonga run, saying that he was “assured” it was seaworthy.
“It was tested, and passed the test.”
3 News