School honours ferry disaster victims

Job Telefoni raises the Tongan flag to half mast at Pacific Christian School in Mangere. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Students of Pacific Christian School in Mangere turned out in black and raised the Tongan flag to half mast yesterday to show respect for the victims of the Tongan ferry disaster.

The school of 99 students raised $300 for a disaster fund through a gold coin donation collection.

Head boy Job Telefoni raised the flag to half mast at the ceremony.

The Tongan ferry Princess Ashika, a 36-year-old vessel, sank around midnight on August 5, 86km northeast of the capital Nuku'alofa.

Tongan police have confirmed two passengers dead, 73 unaccounted for and 54 survivors.

Yesterday the Royal New Zealand Navy released haunting images of the sunken ferry taken from its submarine.