60 still missing

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33407, 13 December 1973, Page 1

60 still missing

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright > I SUVA, December 12. Sixty men, women and children are still missing and feared lost [after an air and MH [search today failed to find any’ more survivors of two ships wrecked by [Cyclone Lottie in the [South Pacific Ocean two days ago. | However, the Fijian Prime .Minister (Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara), who has been personally involved in the search, still holds hope for the lives of those missing. He has told the captain of the Soochow, the China NaviIgation Company freighter [which has picked up most of [the survivors found so far. Ito keep looking. Tlte Soochow, which has been searching the area for the last two days with other ships and aircraft, is returning to Suva tonight with 41 survivors from the interisland ship Uluilakeba, which capsized with 74 passengers and 21 crew on Monday might. One body has been taken from the sea, while 23 survivors from the Makogai, which also capsized in the storm, safely reached the island of Fulaga where they will be picked up by Government vessels and returned to Suva. "Shipping company men are blaming lack of weather information for the disaster. However, the weather office at Nandi says the course of the cyclone was accurately charted and that warnings were broadcast.