A womans' group leader in Tonga says hundreds of people have gathered at a wharf in Nuku'alofa, with many angry about Wednesday's ferry disaster.
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, executive director for the Tongan national centre for women and children, says there have been unofficial reports about the Princess Ashika being unsafe.
Ms Guttenbeil-Likiliki says many have questions around why the boat sank so quickly.
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says up to 300 people have gathered at the shipping company's wharf waiting for news of family members.
"There is a lot of anger around the wharf because there are unanswered questions. People are frustrated they have got so many questions that haven't been answered, and it's got to do with a range of things, if the boat wasn't unsafe why did it go out, why did the government purchase it. So there's a whole lot of questions floating around in the air and the anger is definitely on the rise."
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says the Tongan Government should release more information about what is happening.
And Tonga's Transport Minister has been accused of allowing the Princess Ashika to sail even though he was aware it wasn't seaworthy.
A people's representative to the Parliament of Tonga, says he's been told the ferry should not have been sailing because it didn't meet safety requirements.
Akilisi Pohiva says he was told the information last night by a senior officer within Tonga's Marine Department.
And he confirmed to me the Marine Department did not allow the vessel to operate because the vessel has to meet the safety requirement but according to the information the people who were in charge in that shipping corporation still allowed the vessel to operate.
Akilisi Pohiva says there is great panic among the Tongan population over the sinking tragedy.
But Tonga's Prime Minister says he has been assured the ferry which sank was seaworthy.
Prime Minister Feleti Sevele will be back in Tonga tomorrow night after the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns.
Dr Sevele says despite the concerns raised in Parliament about the ferry it had a seaworthiness certificate.
Tonga's Prime Minister says he has been assured the ferry which sank was seaworthy.
Prime Minister Feleti Sevele will be back in Tonga tomorrow night after the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns.
Dr Sevele says despite the concerns raised in Parliament about the ferry it has a seaworthiness certificate.
Without seaworthiness certificate they wouldn't have insurance. I was assured this morning that that was attended to, it was tested it was passed and therefore they were able to get the seaworthiness certificate, plus marine insurance cover.
Dr Sevele says there have been other ships capsize in the area, pointing to rough conditions at the time, and peculiarities in the currents.
Dr Sevele says other ships have capsized in the area, pointing to rough conditions at the time, and peculiarities in the currents