After months lost at sea on a small boat, 5 people are rescued on the island of Kiribati

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Five people, including two children, were rescued this week on the South Pacific island nation of Kiribati after three months drifting at sea aboard a 20-foot skiff, authorities said. Four others remained missing.

Villagers rescued the group Sunday off Fanning Island in Kiribati, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported, after they drifted about 5,400 kilometers (3,355 miles) east of the Federated States of Micronesia.

The U.S. Coast Guard on Guam confirmed Tuesday that the boat with nine people on board had been reported missing after it failed to return to the island of Ruo in Micronesia on July 30. A 10-day search covering 85,700 square kilometers (33,000 square miles) followed with no sign of the missing boat or people on board, it said.

“This is incredible and wonderful news that these five people have been found and are receiving treatment,” the U.S. Coast Guard said in an email to The Associated Press.

“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who did not arrive with them,” the email added.

Asked by the AP what happened to the missing four, the U.S. Coast Guard said it was continuing to gather and confirm information and would respond as soon as possible.

Kiribati MP Kaotitaake Rakoroa told ABC the survivors were being cared for by a pastor on the island.

Nurse Paukin Tororo told ABC on Monday that all five were severely dehydrated and malnourished. All were put on intravenous drips and showed signs of recovery.

“They can smile, they show the sign that they want to eat,” she told ABC.

The survivors have not yet spoken publicly about their ordeal and have asked for privacy, the Australian channel reported.

The governor of Micronesia’s Chuuk state, Alexander Narruhn, issued a statement on Sunday saying he had begun negotiations with the Kiribati government to repatriate the survivors.

“There were nine people missing on the boat. Thank God for his love and mercy, five of the nine people were found,” Narruhn said through an interpreter.

“We continue to pray for their four companions,” he added. Narruhn did not immediately respond to the AP’s request for comment.

The nine men were on an hour-long crossing between the islands of Murilo and Ruo when they were caught in a storm, ABC reported.