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100 people feared missing after ferry sinks in Papua New Guinea
Almost 250 people rescued after ferry sinks off coast of Papua New Guinea on Thursday and search continues for around 100 still feared to be trapped in sunken ferry.
Image depicting location of sunken MV Rabaul Queen ferry
The search for around 100 people continues after the MV Rabaul Queen ferry which sank off the coast of Papua New Guinea due to rough weather.
A rescue official said that the boat went down with around 350 people on board on Thursday but a third was still feared to be trapped inside the ferry after the rescue mission stopped due to darkness.
Merchant ships supported by Australian rescue aircraft battled strong winds and high seas on their return on Friday to search for survivors.
It is believed that 352 people were on board the ferry when it sank, although an accurate passenger list was not available.
Rescue officials said that survivors described hwo the ferry was hit by waves in stormy conditions causing it to roll and sink in deep water.
Nearly 250 people were rescued and transferred to the ferry’s original destination of Lae, the provincial capital and although some suffered from dehydration and exhaustion, most were generally in good condition.
