The Seventh-day Adventist Church has released an expression of support and condolence to the people of Kiribati following last month’s ferry disaster, which claimed more than 80 lives.
Travelling between the island of Nonouti and the township of Betio, the loaded ferry failed to arrive on January 20 as scheduled.
According to the Guardian Australia website, there was no list of passengers, so the Nonouti council had to go from door to door on the island to establish who was on board.
Of the 88 people believed to be on the MV Butiraoi, 22 were school children on their way to start the new school term. Seven survivors are all that have been found.
Pastor Luther Taniveke, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Kiribati, released this statement:
On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist church members of Kiribati, we wish to share our sympathy with the nation of Kiribati and particularly the Nonouti island community for the loss of their family members and relatives in the recent tragedy of the sunken ferry. Our prayers are with you in this time of sorrow and sadness and we still hope to find others alive somewhere in the Pacific. May our good Lord comfort you in this time of sorrow.
