Hundreds of people in Tonga have packed churches in a national day of mourning as the death toll from the ferry disaster the MV Princess Ashika is now 95.

The death toll in the Princess Ashika ferry disaster in Tonga is expected to rise further, after the number of people missing has risen to 93.

The number of passengers believed to have been on board has risen from 141 to 149. With 54 rescued and only two bodies recovered, that leaves 93 people unaccounted for.

Tonga Police Commander Chris Kelly said the final number could be even higher and they are continuing to analyse information about unrecorded people on board the vessel, which had a manifest showing only 79 passengers and crew.

Divers from the Royal New Zealand and Australian Navies arrived on Saturday to try and locate the wreck, however they were unable to reach the sea bed on their first dive.