23 Jul 2009

Kiribati to hold special service after boating accident

12:54 pm on 23 July 2009

A joint church service will be held in Kiribati tomorrow night to remember the victims of last week's boat tragedy -the country's biggest reported disaster at sea.

The Police Maritime service says 15 people have been confirmed dead and 18 are still missing after the accident involving a double-hulled canoe which set sail from Tarawa to Maiana.

Earlier this week, the President gave his condolences to families who lost their loved ones and thanked the efforts of those involved with the search and rescue operations.

A service will be held at the Kiribati National Church at 7pm tomorrow night to commemorate those who died.

The Commander of Police Maritime, John Mote, says there were 55 people on board the vessel and 22 have survived the ordeal.

He says the national flag was half mast last Tuesday to mark the mourning throughout the country.