FED:Australia offers all assistance to PNG

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2012
FED:Australia offers all assistance to PNG

Australia has directed six ships and several aircraft, including a PC3 Orion plane,
to the area where a Papua New Guinea ferry carrying an estimated 350 people went down.

The MV Rabaul Queen went missing on Thursday morning when travelling between Lae and
the West New Britain town of Kimbe.

Australian Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD says there is likely to be a very high loss
of life from the tragedy.

Foreign Minister KEVIN RUDD says Australia is standing ready to help in any way it
can and he says he's spoken to his counterpart, PNG Foreign Minister ANO PALA.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has arranged ships in the area to conduct
rescues and for aircraft to fly over the area and to help dropping rescue equipment, including
life rafts.

Six merchant vessels are currently on the scene, four of them are recovering survivors.

AAP RTV ag/klm/wz

KEYWORD: PNG FERRY RUDD (CANBERRA)

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