Ferry carrying about 300 aboard sinks

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A ferry with about 300 passengers aboard sank Thursday off Papua New Guinea, and some of those on board have been rescued, officials said.

The ferry, MV Rabaul Queen operated by Star Ships in PNG, went down off the country's northern coast while sailing between Kimbe and Lae, the BBC reported. One official was quoted as saying four rescue boats were at the scene and at least 28 of the passengers had been rescued.

A distress signal from the ferry was received early Thursday.

Capt. Nurur Rahman with the Papua New Guinea's National Maritime Safety Authority told the BBC he had received reports of people floating in life jackets where the boat sank.

"So far I have news that 28 survivors have been picked up on one of the vessels," he said.

Australia's News.com quoted Prime Minister Julia Gillard as saying Australia is providing assistance to PNG.

"This is obviously a major tragedy," she told reporters.