11 Feb 2010

Three men drown off a Tokelau atoll after boat capsizes in rought seas

9:00 pm on 11 February 2010

Three people have drowned off the Tokelau atoll of Atafu.

On Tuesday, Tokelau time, a boat carrying seven young men and cargo to the MV Tokelau capsized in very rough seas.

The Stuff newsagency quotes a spokesman from the Office of the Administrator of Tokelau saying four of the men had managed to swim to safety, while three had perished.

In a statement the Faipule of Atafu, Kuresa Nasau, says it's the first time such a disaster had happened on the atoll.