24 Dec 2018

Victims' families of Kiribati ferry disaster mull legal action

7:43 am on 24 December 2018

A Kiribati NGO representing families of the victims of the Butiraoi ferry disaster says it could launch legal action against the government.

Some of the seven survivors shortly after being rescued.

Some of the seven survivors shortly after being rescued Photo: Facebook/ @RadioKiribati

At least 80 people died when the Ferry sank in January.

Kiribati Citizens Against Corruption said it was is also planning to run a non-binding referendum in which people could vote for the release of a report into the disaster.

The government has said the report will be made public eventually, but it is still considering whether to lay criminal charges.

The NGO's chief executive, Ngatau Neneia, says he's gathering the families to launch legal action.

"At the moment we are gathering people, the families of the victims... If we can manage to get at least 50 percent of the families of the victims then we might be able to take legal action against the government," Mr Neneia said.

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