Two Children Among Five Rescued After Being Lost at Sea for Three Months

In an extraordinary survival story from the Pacific Ocean, five people have been rescued after drifting nearly 5,400 kilometres at sea for around three months. On July 30, nine people set out in a 20-foot boat from Muri Island in Micronesia, intending to travel to Ruo Island. However, they were caught in a storm and went missing. When they failed to reach their destination, authorities launched a search operation, covering nearly 85,700 square kilometres over 10 days. Despite the extensive search, there was no trace of the missing boat. The US Coast Guard in Guam confirmed the incident.

The boat was eventually spotted by locals near Fanning Island in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. By then, only five people, including two children, were alive on board, while four others remained missing. The US Coast Guard described the survival of the five people as remarkable. Kiribati medical authorities said the rescued individuals were suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition and were receiving treatment. They are reportedly recovering. The discovery of the boat and the rescue of the survivors have also brought relief and joy to people in Micronesia.