Five People Found Alive After Spending Three Months Lost at Sea

Five people, including two children, have been rescued after spending nearly three months stranded aboard a small boat in the Pacific Ocean, ending an extraordinary ordeal that began with what was supposed to be a brief trip between islands.

The survivors were among nine passengers who departed the Micronesian islands of Murilo and Ruo on July 30, according to Fox News.

The group had planned to make the roughly one-hour crossing, but a sudden storm pushed their 20-foot skiff off course and left them drifting in open water, according to reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corp. and The Times of London.

The five were eventually spotted near Fanning Island in Kiribati on Nov. 1; residents discovered the vessel off the coast and helped bring the passengers to safety.

Their disappearance had prompted an extensive search by the U.S. Coast Guard. The agency covered more than 25,000 nautical miles using 31 different search patterns before suspending its active search on Aug. 10 without finding the boat.

After their rescue, the three adults and two children were taken in by a local church pastor, who provided shelter and assistance, Kiribati lawmaker Kaotitaake Rakoroa told news outlets.

The survivors were reportedly suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration when they arrived. Medical personnel have since reported encouraging signs as the group begins recovering.

Paukin Tororo, a nursing officer treating the five, told the ABC that the survivors were showing improvements, including smiling, moving their heads, and signaling that they wanted food.

The fate of the other four passengers remains unknown, and authorities have not explained how the five survivors managed to stay alive throughout their time at sea.