Five people, including two children, have been rescued after spending approximately three months drifting across the Pacific Ocean when their small boat was blown off course during a storm.
The group was among nine people who departed Murilo, an island in Micronesia, in late July.
They had planned to make a short journey to the neighbouring island of Ruo, a crossing expected to take about an hour.
However, severe weather disrupted their journey, pushing the boat far beyond its intended route and leaving the occupants stranded at sea.
Boat Drifted 3,400 Miles From Its Intended Route
The storm carried the group approximately 3,400 miles towards Fanning Island in Kiribati, where local residents eventually spotted them three months after their departure.
The five survivors were rescued on Sunday and are currently receiving care from the pastor of a local church.
Kiribati MP Kaotitaake Rakoroa confirmed that the survivors had received initial medical attention from healthcare officials on the island.
He recommended that they be transferred urgently to Kiritimati Island, the nearest urban centre, where they could receive further medical treatment.
Coast Guard Had Suspended Search in August
The US Coast Guard in Micronesia had previously launched a search operation for the missing boat and its occupants.
However, the search was suspended on August 9 after rescuers had covered approximately 25,000 nautical miles without locating the group.
The five rescued individuals have not made any public statements about their ordeal and have requested that their privacy be respected.
Politician Calls for Efforts to Reunite Survivors With Families
Micronesian politician Alexander Narruhn issued a statement on Sunday evening expressing gratitude following the discovery of the survivors.
He confirmed that nine people had originally been aboard the missing vessel, adding that five had now been located.
Narruhn said: “Thanks be to God for his love and mercy that five of the nine people have been found.”
He also called for continued prayers for the four people who remain missing.
The politician disclosed that he had asked Micronesia’s president to initiate diplomatic discussions with the Kiribati government to facilitate the survivors’ return home.
The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the remaining four passengers are still unknown.
Other Drifting Incidents Reported Across the Pacific
The rescue comes amid several incidents involving people who have gone missing at sea in the region after strong winds pushed their boats away from their intended destinations.
Last week, 18-year-old Luka Rahan from Papua New Guinea was rescued after spending 41 days adrift between the islands of Tarawa and Maiana in Kiribati.
Rahan and his cousin had embarked on a fishing trip from Bougainville in September but encountered engine problems that left them unable to control their vessel.
Their boat drifted more than 1,200 miles towards Kiribati. Rahan survived the ordeal, but his cousin did not.
In another incident in October, three people from Bougainville returned home after spending approximately 70 days drifting at sea. They were eventually discovered near Kiritimati Island.
