US: Moderate 5.9 earthquake shakes Tonga

NEW YORK — A moderate magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the South Pacific near Tonga on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. No tsunami watch was issued.

Military searches for bodies, brings aid to tsunami-stricken Samoas, death toll rises

LALOMANU, Samoa — The relief effort in the tsunami-stricken Samoas entered its fourth day Friday as medical teams gave tetanus shots and antibiotics to survivors with infected wounds and some frightened residents who fled to the hills after the disaster vowed never to return to their decimated seaside villages.

Tongans hold funeral service at sea for 74 lost in ferry disaster

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Wailing mourners from Tonga dropped a marble plaque inscribed with 74 victims’ names into the ocean above the wreck of a ferry that sank this month in a disaster that shook the tiny South Pacific nation.

Tonga police warn may never identify all 93 victims of ferry sinking

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Tonga may have to abandon attempts to recover the bodies of 93 people believed to be trapped inside a ferry that sank off the coast of the South Pacific country because of the expense of the operation, officials said Thursday.

Wreck of capsized ferry found off Tonga coast, but no sign of 93 missing, presumed dead

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Searchers located the wreck Wednesday of a ferry that capsized off Tonga a week earlier and found no immediate signs of the 93 people on board who are still missing and presumed dead.

Wreck of capsized ferry in Tonga found; 93 still missing

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Searchers located the wreck Wednesday of a ferry that capsized off Tonga a week earlier and found no immediate signs of the 93 people on board who are still missing and presumed dead.

Tonga transport minister resigns in ferry sinking, 93 still missing and presumed dead

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Tonga’s minister of transport resigned Tuesday, six days after a state-owned ferry sank, leaving 93 people missing in one of the South Pacific nation’s biggest tragedies.

Tonga ferry captain says he was pressured to sail ferry that sank, leaving 93 missing

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga —The captain of the Tongan ferry that sank leaving 93 missing and presumed dead said Monday he was pressured into sailing the vessel even though authorities knew the ship had problems.

Search for 93 missing after Tonga ferry disaster temporarily called off because of bad weather

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga —Searchers suspended the underwater hunt Monday for a sunken ferry carrying 93 people missing and feared dead because rough weather made it too dangerous for divers.

Number of people missing and feared dead in Tongan ferry disaster rises to 93

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga —The number of people missing and feared dead rose to 93 Sunday after their ferry sank off Tonga last week, as divers continued to try and locate the sunken vessel in deep waters off the South Pacific nation.

Hopes fade for finding more survivors of Tongan ferry disaster; 64 missing presumed dead

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Eighty-five passengers were missing and feared dead Saturday after their ferry flipped and sank off Tonga, with only two bodies recovered more than two days after the disaster.

Tonga police warn ferry toll may rise further as search enters second day

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — The number of people missing and feared dead after a ferry sank in Tonga rose Friday to more than 60 and could jump further, police said, as the prime minister called the tragedy a “major disaster” for his tiny country.

Ferry sinks in rough Pacific waters off Tonga, dozens feared dead

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Giving women and children the comfort of cabins while men stayed on deck may have doomed them to be trapped inside an overnight ferry that capsized in heavy seas off Tonga, officials said. Dozens are missing and feared dead.

Dozens feared dead after ferry sinks off Tonga; rescuers pull 50 survivors from water

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — An overnight ferry packed with sleeping passengers flipped in heavy seas near the Pacific island nation of Tonga, leaving more than 30 people missing and feared dead, officials said Thursday.

Rescuers search for dozens feared dead after ferry sinks off Tonga

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — An overnight ferry packed with sleeping passengers flipped in heavy seas near the Pacific island nation of Tonga, leaving more than 30 people missing and feared dead, officials said Thursday.

Rescuers search for dozens missing feared dead after ferry sinks off Tonga

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — An overnight ferry packed with sleeping passengers flipped in heavy seas near the Pacific island nation of Tonga, leaving more than 30 people missing and feared dead, officials said Thursday.

Australian leader says there has been ‘considerable’ loss of life in Tongan ferry sinking

SYDNEY — Australia’s leader says there has been ‘considerable’ loss of life in a ferry sinking off Tonga.

Rescuers search for 23 missing after ferry sinks off Tonga; killing at least 1

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Ships and planes searched South Pacific waters near Tonga for 23 people missing Thursday after a ferry flipped over and sank in heavy seas during the night, killing at least one person.

Rescuers search for 23 missing after ferry sinks off Tonga

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Ships and planes searched South Pacific waters near Tonga for 23 people missing Thursday after a ferry flipped over and sank in heavy seas during the night, killing at least one person.

Rescue officials: ferry sinks off of Tonga in the South Pacific, 27 people are missing

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Rescue officials searched the South Pacific’s waters for 27 people missing after a ferry sank during the night off the coast of Tonga, New Zealand rescue coordinators said Thursday.

Rescue officials: ferry sinks off of Tonga in the South Pacific, 33 people are missing

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Rescue officials searched the South Pacific’s waters for 33 people missing after a ferry sank during the night off the coast of Tonga, New Zealand rescue coordinators said Thursday.