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Princess Ashika, the ferry that sank 86 km northeast of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa - Source: Reuters -
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Continuing confusion over passenger numbers means that though 55 people have been rescued from the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Tongan waters, an unknown number are still missing at sea.
As many as 40 women and children , are missing and feared dead after the sinking of the inter-island ferry, which was heading from Nuku'alofa to Ha'afeva, in the Nomuka Islands group.
"Nearly 24 hours after the disaster ... it is not clear exactly how many people were onboard," the Matangi Tonga newspaper reported on its website.
"The official figures are 79, but others sources say that there were actually up to 96 crew and passengers".
The ship operator, Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, confirmed two bodies had been found in search waters after the ship capsized, apparently while most of the women and children were sleeping below deck.
The receptionist at Niu'ui Hospital in Ha'apai confirmed that one of them, the body of a European man was in the morgue there.
He is reported to be a British man who has been living in New Zealand for the past five years, Daniel Macmillan, 48.
Macmillan was travelling on a British passport, but had a New Zealand driver's licence.
A British High Commission spokesman in Wellington said the man's UK family was in the process of being informed.
The Dominion-Post newspaper said on its website that Macmillan's relatives live in a remote part of Scotland.
The British man was among six foreigners on the ship, including German, French and Japanese nationals.
A Japanese volunteer service abroad worker, Hiroshi Umeda, 70, a specialist marine electrical engineer who worked for the shipping company is missing. Mr Umeda, who was recently photographed meeting Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou V at the opening of the Japanese Embassy in Nuku'alofa, had gone to Tonga for JICA, the equivalent of a Japanese peace corps.
The hospital receptionist said three survivors had been admitted to the hospital, including the ship's captain Maka Tuputupu who was found drifting in a lifeboat with another man, and is now suffering from shock.
In a police report at 3:50 pm on Thursday, Chief Inspector Sokopeti To'ia, said figures based on the ship's manifest showed listed 79 people were on board.
"Realistically, we believe there were more passengers on board but we could not confirm at this stage how many they are," she said.
She confirmed 28 crew had been rescued along with 27 passengers.
Meanwhile, the families of those missing are preparing themselves for the worst, the Nuku'alofa newspaper said.
Nine of the missing had been named by their families and friends, including passengers travelling to Pangai for a wedding: Valele 'Elone, the groom; his cousin, Veuso 'Elone; and friend Matoni 'Aho.
Nomiola Hikila, 73 of Ma'ufanga said his son Tupou, 39, was missing, and a survivor, Siaosi Lavaka said his mother Kalolaine Lavaka remained missing.
In Christchurch woman, Elisapeta Tahahau 'Ofa told The Press newspaper that her mother, Atelete Mailangi, 63, and youngest brother Baula Mailangi, 20, and a sister Tapuaki Mailangi are missing.
Mike Roberts, of New Zealand's Rescue Co-ordination Centre said on Thursday reports of the number of people on board varied and it was possible more than 100 were on the Princess Ashika.
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