Ferry sinking: many still missing

PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

At least 100 people are still missing after a ferry went down off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

The first of 238 survivors plucked from the sea by rescue teams began arriving in Lae on the north coast early on Friday (February 3), according to the acting head of Papua New Guinea's maritime authority.

Australia's Maritime Safety Authority said three merchant ships and four rescue aircraft were taking part in the search for those still missing in the area where the 47 metre ferry sank about 16 miles from shore.

The MV Rebaul Queen was on the way from New Britain to the mainland city of Lae, when it sank suddenly on Thursday (February 2) with about 350 people on board.

Fears are growing over the fate of those still missing, many of whom are now feared to have drowned.

Relatives are angry about what they see as a lack of information about their family members, and some reportedly pelted the offices of the ferry operator with stones.

Rabaul Shipping said it had no information about the cause of the sinking, saying the vessel went down quickly without sending a distress message.

Papua New Guinea's prime minister has pledged a full investigation into the sinking.