Tongan ferry runs aground

8.00am

At least 1500 people are stranded on a Tongan beach after a ferry ran on to a coral reef while entering Pangai in the Ha'apai Group early this morning.

A New Zealand passenger, John Ross from Manukau City, told Newstalk ZB radio there was a grinding and shuddering as the ship came to a halt.

He believes the ferry was travelling at about 12 knots.

"The other ferry, the Olovaha, has just arrived so we're going to all try to get on that. Most everybody here wants to go to Vava'u."

Mr Ross says the two ferriers are the only transport between the islands of Tonga, after the collapse of Royal Tongan Airlines.

- Newstalk ZB