International search ends for boat, which was carrying 23 schoolchildren when it disappeared two weeks ago

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Relatives of children on a Kiribati ferry that went missing two weeks ago have demanded answers from the government, after the international search for the vessel was called off.

The MV Butiraoi ferry was loaded with more than 80 people, including 23 schoolchildren, when it disappeared on 20 January.

On Friday the rescue coordination centre in Fiji told aerial search planes from Australia, New Zealand and the US to return home, after survival modelling showed the chance of finding any more survivors had dwindled following six days of searching in which nothing more significant than a gas canister and ocean debris was found.

Four Kiribati vessels remain in the massive search area and will continue looking.

Kiribati ferry disaster: 22 schoolchildren among those feared lost Read more

The MV Butiraoi left Nonouti Island on 18 January for a two-day, 250km (155-mile) trip to Betio, the largest township of Kiribati’s capital city, South Tarawa. It failed to arrive as scheduled on 20 January.

Fifteen-year-old Phillip Bonteman was one of 23 children and 65 adults on board the ferry, many returning to the main Island of Tarawa for the new school year.

Bonteman’s family are still clinging to hope that the teenager may somehow be found alive. “He’s so young, it hurts for us to lose one of our family members,” said Bonteman’s aunt Sally Morrison.

“I’m still hoping he’s out there alive. We still don’t have the full story.”

One 14-year-old girl was among seven survivors rescued in the central Pacific on Sunday from a wooden dinghy that had no engine, water, food or radio.

The Kiribati government has been strongly criticised by families awaiting news of loved ones for its alleged disregard for marine safety and the fact that it took officials six days to call on Fiji and New Zealand for help from the air, using radar equipment and specialised marine rescue teams.

Ieremia Tabai, a Nonouti MP, slammed the vessel as “unseaworthy” and said the government should have stopped it sailing.

President Taneti Maamau has not spoken publically since the aerial search was called off, but said on Wednesday that a full investigation would take place.

A Kiribati medical team of three doctors and four nurses reached the seven survivors on Tuesday. The survivors are now being transported to the main island of Tarawa for further treatment. They are reported to be in reasonable health.

Former president Anote Tong told the ABC that the apparent sinking had shocked his nation and people were angry at the government as they looked for someone to blame.

“This is by far the biggest disaster in terms of numbers and also in terms of the people involved,” said Tong, who has called for a thorough investigation of the incident, saying the disaster could amount to a “criminal act” if it was found to be due to gross negligence.