5 people missing on a boat in the Pacific Ocean found after three months
A boat with Micronesians on board, which was considered missing, was found near the shores of Kiribati, 5.5 thousand kilometers away from where it had departed.
5 people missing at sea in the Pacific Ocean found after three months
Five people have been found alive after drifting in the open ocean for almost three months.
At the end of July, 9 people set off in a boat from the island of Murilo in Micronesia to the neighboring island of Ruo. The journey was supposed to take about an hour, but the boat encountered a storm and drifted into the open sea. Search operations continued for several weeks — until August 9 — but brought no results.
On November 1, residents of Fanning Island, which is part of Kiribati, spotted the boat. During this time, the current had carried it approximately 5.5 thousand kilometers away. The rescued individuals (who include two children) were given shelter by a local church pastor, after which they were provided with medical assistance. A Kiribati MP recommended transferring them as soon as possible to the nearest major settlement — Kiritimati — for treatment.
The fate of the remaining four passengers is currently unknown. Micronesian politician Alexander Narruhn expressed his gratitude to everyone who participated in the rescue efforts and stated that they continue to pray for the missing. He also asked the President of Micronesia to begin negotiations with the government of Kiribati regarding the repatriation of the survivors.
The rescued individuals have not yet shared how they managed to survive for so long and asked that their privacy be respected.