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Ferry sinks off Papua New Guinea with 350 on board Ferry sinks off Papua New Guinea with 350 on board
(about 2 hours later)
Rescue crews have saved 50 people from the water off Papua New Guinea's north-east coast after a ferry sank Thursday with as many as 350 people on board, officials said. Rescue crews have saved 200 people from the water off Papua New Guinea's north-east coast after a ferry sank with as many as 350 people on board, officials said.
An aeroplane from Australia, three helicopters and six ships were scouring the search area after the MV Rabaul Queen went down while travelling from Kimbe on the island of New Britain to the coastal town of Lae on the main island, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a statement. An aeroplane from Australia, three helicopters and eight ships scoured the search area on Thursday after the MV Rabaul Queen went down while travelling from Kimbe on the island of New Britain to the coastal town of Lae on the main island, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a statement.
Rescue co-ordinator Captain Nurur Rahman said four merchant ships were diverted to the scene by Australian authorities to help with the rescue. "I cannot confirm or deny the 350 missing number, it is hearsay. I have not seen the manifest as yet, but it is likely around 300." The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, called the incident a "major tragedy" and said her country was providing assistance to its near neighbour.
The Australian maritime agency initially detected the ferry's distress beacon and alerted the PNG Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which is in charge of the rescue effort. An Australian statement said "approximately 50 people have been rescued so far". "Given the likely very high loss of life here, I think when this news comes to the attention of Australians around the country they will be thinking about the people of PNG as they respond to this tragedy," she added.
The Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, said there were 350 people on board and that Australia was providing assistance to its near neighbour. "This is obviously a major tragedy," she said. The Australian maritime agency initially detected the ferry's distress beacon and alerted the PNG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, which is coordinating the rescue effort. The Australian statement said 219 survivors had been recovered by five ships by late on Thursday.
"Given the likely very high loss of life here, I think when this news comes to the attention of Australians around the country they will be thinking about the people of PNG as they respond to this tragedy." It said 350 people were believed to be on board, but Papua New Guinea's National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) rescue co-ordinator Captain Nurur Rahman said the true figure was likely lower.
Rahman said he was being fed information from an NMSA agent on board one of the rescue ships. "The dynamics of this thing are changing all the time, minute by minute," he said. "I cannot confirm or deny the 350 missing number. It is hearsay," Rahman said. "I have not seen the manifest as yet, but it is likely around 300."
Earlier, an unnamed NMSA official said two helicopters from Lae had joined the operation. The NMSA rescue co-ordinator Fred Siroi said he would make a public statement later. Rahman said he was being fed information from an NMSA agent on board one
/>of the ships.
"The dynamics of this thing are changing all the time, minute by minute," he said.
Ship operator Star Ships could not be immediately contacted for comment.Ship operator Star Ships could not be immediately contacted for comment.