Ferry's last messages revealed

HELSINKI - 'This is Estonia . . . It looks really bad indeed here now,' were the desperate last words from the bridge of the sinking ferry Estonia. Accident investigators released a recording of urgent radio communications between the ship and nearby ferries shortly before it sank on 28 September. Of more than 1,000 people on board, only 134 survived.

'We have a problem here now, we are listing heavily to starboard, I think it must be 20 to 30 degrees,' a crewman tells another ferry. Asked for the Estonia's position, he says: 'We have a blackout, unable to give it now, I can't tell you it.' Later he gave an estimated position, but shortly afterwards the final message was heard. Reuter