UPDATE (August 30, 2009) --> Mass Burial at Sea for 74 MV Princess Ashika Victims
For the previous post on the MV Princess Ashika --> click here for the original story.
The New Zealand Navy is sending a remote operated vehicle to identify what it believes to be the wreckage of the MV Princess Ashika. There was a briefing between Alfred Soakai, acting secretary for the Tongan Ministry of Communications and Information, and Lieutenant Commander Andrew McMillian, head of New Zealand Navy dive team in Tonga. You can listen to the briefing by clicking on this sentence.
Here is a list of 37 missing and unaccounted passengers who were on the ill-fated vessel. A total of ninety-three (93) persons are thought missing in the tragedy.
Fortunately, there is some financial hope for the families hard hit by the tragedy as the Ashika Relief Fund has collected over $600,000.
Source: Matangi Tonga ; Radio Australia
For the previous post on the MV Princess Ashika --> click here for the original story.
The New Zealand Navy is sending a remote operated vehicle to identify what it believes to be the wreckage of the MV Princess Ashika. There was a briefing between Alfred Soakai, acting secretary for the Tongan Ministry of Communications and Information, and Lieutenant Commander Andrew McMillian, head of New Zealand Navy dive team in Tonga. You can listen to the briefing by clicking on this sentence.
The New Zealand Navy is sending a remote operated vehicle down to what they believe is the wreck of the Princess Ashika in the waters off Tonga. The identity will be confirmed by finding the vessel's name-plate. But because the vessel is 110 metres below the surface it is too deep to send navy divers down - and the recovery of bodies is now in question.
Here is a list of 37 missing and unaccounted passengers who were on the ill-fated vessel. A total of ninety-three (93) persons are thought missing in the tragedy.
Fortunately, there is some financial hope for the families hard hit by the tragedy as the Ashika Relief Fund has collected over $600,000.
DONATIONS to the Ashika Relief Fund have reached over $600,000 pa'anga the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Busby Kautok, said on August 14 on receiving a $2,000 donation from the Staff Association Committee of the Westpac Bank of Tonga.
The $2,000 donation from Westpac staff was raised after staff in all six Westpac branches in Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai and 'Eua wore black on a three-day mufti.
Prior to that Westpac Bank of Tonga had also donated $20,000 to the Tonga Red Cross to assist them in their endeavor to help families of the Ashika tragedy.
Government established the Ashika Relief Fund with $500,000 pa'anga for the purpose of helping families who have been affected. The Chinese Federation, Chinese Business Council and Chinese residents in Tonga made the first outside donation of $51,572 earlier in the week.
This was followed by a USD$30,000 dollars donation from the China Red Cross presented to the Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele earlier this week.
Source: Matangi Tonga ; Radio Australia
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