18 Feb 2005

Damaged boats rescued in Samoa waters

11:14 am on 18 February 2005

A New Zealand Airforce Orion has resumed searching for two people still missing from a fishing vessel that sank in waters off Samoa.

Four crew members from the boat were rescued from liferafts overnight, but two others are still missing.

A further vessel was reported missing overnight, but search and rescue teams have not heard from it since they first made contact with it more than 36 hours ago.

There are seven people on board.

And a commercial vessel has reached the fishing boat, Princess Karlina, which has been repaired and is now heading back to Samoa.

Another fishing vessel that was in distress with three injured crew members on board is now being towed back to Apia.