Five rescued near Kiribati after three months adrift in the Pacific

Five people have been rescued near Kiribati's Fanning Island after drifting in a small boat across the Pacific Ocean for about three months. Two children are among the survivors, while the fate of four others who were on board remains unclear.

What happened

According to the Associated Press, a skiff about six metres long carrying nine people left Murilo for Ruo, in Micronesia's Chuuk state, on July 30, but was caught in a storm and lost its way. When it failed to arrive, the US Coast Guard carried out a 10-day search covering 85,700 square kilometres without finding it.

On Sunday, residents of Fanning Island, part of Kiribati's Line Islands, found the five survivors off the coast and rescued them. The boat had drifted about 5,400 kilometres, ABC's Pacific Beat reported.

Their condition

The three men and two boys were severely dehydrated and malnourished. Local nursing officer Paukin Tororo told ABC they were immediately put on intravenous drips and were showing signs of recovery, including wanting to eat. They are being cared for by a local pastor and have asked for privacy.

What's next

Chuuk Governor Alexander Narruhn has begun talks with the government of Kiribati on bringing the survivors home. AP reported that the other four people remain missing, while ABC reported that they died during the journey.

Sources: Associated Press, ABC Pacific, iSee.mn