This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/03/papua-new-guinea-ferry-rescue-effort

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Papua New Guinea ferry disaster: bad weather hampers rescue effort Papua New Guinea ferry disaster: bad weather hampers rescue effort
(about 1 hour later)
A day after rescuing nearly 250 survivors from a ferry that sank off Papua New Guinea's east coast, rescue teams searching for more than 110 others have so far been unsuccessful.A day after rescuing nearly 250 survivors from a ferry that sank off Papua New Guinea's east coast, rescue teams searching for more than 110 others have so far been unsuccessful.
Many of the people missing are thought to be still be on board the vessel, which now lies at the bottom of the sea.Many of the people missing are thought to be still be on board the vessel, which now lies at the bottom of the sea.
The MV Rabaul Queen sank on Thursday and large waves and strong winds continued to hamper rescue efforts. However, the rescue co-ordinator for Papua New Guinea's National Maritime Safety Authority, Captain Nurur Rahman, said he had not given up hope of finding more survivors.The MV Rabaul Queen sank on Thursday and large waves and strong winds continued to hamper rescue efforts. However, the rescue co-ordinator for Papua New Guinea's National Maritime Safety Authority, Captain Nurur Rahman, said he had not given up hope of finding more survivors.
The ferry was hit by three big waves before sinking. A survivor recovering in hospital, Alice Kakamara, said: "The sea was really rough, windy, big waves. The boat tilted once, then twice, then three times and it went over. There was oil everywhere."The ferry was hit by three big waves before sinking. A survivor recovering in hospital, Alice Kakamara, said: "The sea was really rough, windy, big waves. The boat tilted once, then twice, then three times and it went over. There was oil everywhere."
The ferry's owners, Papua New Guinea-based Rabaul Shipping Company, said there had been 350 passengers and 12 crew on board the 22-year-old Japanese-built ferry when it went down on Thursday morning. A police official said most of those were students. The ferry's owners, Papua New Guinea-based Rabaul Shipping Company, said there had been 350 passengers and 12 crew on board the 22-year-old Japanese-built ferry when it went down on Thursday morning. A police official said most of those were students.
"We are stunned and utterly devastated by what has happened," the managing director, Peter Sharp, said in a statement."We are stunned and utterly devastated by what has happened," the managing director, Peter Sharp, said in a statement.
The company said the cause of the disaster remained unclear, but the head of Papua New Guinea's national weather service, Sam Maiha, told the Post-Courier newspaper that shipping agencies had been warned to keep ships moored this week because of strong winds.The company said the cause of the disaster remained unclear, but the head of Papua New Guinea's national weather service, Sam Maiha, told the Post-Courier newspaper that shipping agencies had been warned to keep ships moored this week because of strong winds.
By nightfall on Thursday, 246 survivors had been rescued by merchant ships battling 45mph winds.By nightfall on Thursday, 246 survivors had been rescued by merchant ships battling 45mph winds.
Captain Rahman said the sea temperature was above 20C – warm enough for people to survive for an extended period. Rahman said the sea temperature was above 20C – warm enough for people to survive for an extended period.