WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A ferry that sank earlier this month while sailing between two islands in the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati had been ordered not to carry passengers because of earlier damage, the government said Wednesday. A New Zealand military plane using radar found a small wooden dinghy on Sunday that was carrying seven survivors who told rescuers the ferry sank. He said investigators are going to the island to find out more about the passenger count and why the ferry left despite the orders. Other questions remain, including why it took Kiribati authorities so long to tell New Zealand officials the ferry was missing. The seven survivors told rescuers they had drifted for four days in the blazing sun and had no water.

Source: National Post January 31, 2018 05:17 UTC