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Relatives and friends of the passengers of the MV Rabaul Queen ferry that sank wait for news. - Source: Reuters -
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Rescuers searching for survivors after a heavily laden ferry sank off Papua New Guinea said today they had found four bodies and that the search would go on for about 100 still missing.
Planes, ships and helicopters have been mobilised to search for survivors from the MV Rabaul Queen, which sank in rough weather on Thursday with an estimated 350 people on board.
Captain Nurur Rahman, of the country's maritime safety authority, said the number of confirmed survivors stood at 246.
"The search is continuing," he said by telephone.
"We are searching for survivors but now we have picked up four bodies and no survivors."
Rahman said he remained optimistic, given the relatively warm water, that more survivors would be found.
The ship's owner, Rabaul Shipping, has said it is unclear why the 47m (155 feet) ferry sank.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has promised a full investigation into the tragedy, which occurred off the South Pacific nation's northeast coast.
Ferry owner accountable: relatives
Relatives and co-workers of more than 100 people feared drowned in Papua New Guinea's MV Rabaul Ferry disaster say the vessel's owners must be held accountable.
A large crowd has gathered outside Lae's Angau Hospital where there is mounting frustration over the lack of information on survivors and the search effort.
One man shouted in pidgin that he wanted to go to the Lae office of Star Ships' parent company, Rabaul Shipping, to "make them do something".
Pastor Kave Tau said he was waiting for word on two co-workers from Goroka University and three students at Eastern Highlands Bible School.
"The three from the bible school had their wives and families with them," he said.
Asked about support from PNG's government agencies, Pastor Kave said there had been none, with most emergency aid being distributed by the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and Ausaid.
Pastor Peter Yorio said he had been a frequent traveller on the doomed vessel.
"My wife and children were on the boat but got off in Rabaul," he said.
"I have travelled on it a lot. They is always overloading, overloading of passengers."
He said the owner, Star Shipping, and its operator, Peter Sharp, must be held accountable.
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