CONCEeRNEeD CITIZEeNS gather on the dock as survivors arrive in Ppangai on Tonga’s Lifuka Island, Thursday, after a ferry carrying 117 passengers and crew sank around midnight Wednesday, northeast of the Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa. (AP)

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (AP) — Eighty-five passengers were missing and feared dead Saturday after their ferry flipped and sank off Tonga, with only two bodies recovered more than two days after the disaster.

Police Chief Inspector Sokopeti To’ia told The Associated Press on Saturday the latest count of those aboard the ill-fated ferry was 141. Of those, 54 were rescued and two bodies recovered, leaving 85 missing. The dead were a British man living in New Zealand and a Polynesian woman.

Navy divers from Australia and New Zealand arrived early Saturday to help comb the wreck for bodies.

The 85 missing were presumed dead. Investigators continued to learn more about how many people were aboard when the Princess Ashika went down at midnight Wednesday while carrying passengers and cargo from the capital, Nuku’alofa, to outlying northern islands.

Police Commander Chris Kelley told reporters in Tonga on Saturday that the number of dead could rise further. “This marine disaster is a tragedy of huge proportions for this country,’’ Kelley said.

Five foreigners were among the missing, four were French and German — the breakdown was not exactly known — and one Japanese, To’ia said. Seven children were unaccounted for. The identities of the foreigners were yet to be confirmed, To’ia said. The chances of finding any of the missing alive “are not great,’’ Kelley said Friday.