Families of those missing after the Tongan ferry tragedy are struggling to get information.
Christchurch woman Elisapeta Tahahau Ofa is bracing herself for the worst as she tries to find out what has happened to her mother, and her youngest brother and sister, who were on the boat.
She says she has questions about the ferry being an old boat, and whether it should have been running - but that is not what comes first in her mind.
"Ah what comes first in my mind is, cause I'm the oldest, I'm trying to be strong to support my brothers and sisters and my dad as well."
Elisapeta Tahahau Ofa says she has other family members in Tonga desperately running around trying to get any information at all.
Meanwhile, survivors have told how unstrapped cargo and waves combined to sink the boat in about a minute.
New Zealander Sam Judd is working for charitable organization Sustainable Coastline, and was at the scene when rescue efforts got underway.
Mr Judd says survivors have told him the Princess Ashika was in rough seas when a wave entered through the lower deck, swamping it.
He says cargo that was not strapped down moved to one side of the boat.
And this combined with the effect of the water made it tip over to one side. I've been told by one of the people who was rescued that it all happened in about one minute, the boat was gone.
Sam Judd says people were trying to bail water out, but they say things just happened to quickly.
