The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has located seven survivors from a ferry that went missing in the waters off Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean with 50 people on-board.
The ferry, MV Butiraoi, was originally reported missing a week ago.
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A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion aircraft was deployed as part of the search operation and was able to locate the survivors as they were drifting on a 5m dinghy in the Pacific Ocean.
NZDF Air Component Commander Darryn Webb said: “The crew has dropped them aid supplies containing water, food and a radio and are currently trying to establish communication with them.”
Webb stated that the Orion aircraft has contacted a fishing vessel to assist in picking up the survivors from the dinghy.
Webb further added: “The Orion will continue to search the area, making every effort to locate any more survivors, while awaiting the rendezvous with the fishing vessel.”
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By GlobalDataThe Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) is currently coordinating the search operation to rescue the Butiraoi vessel.
The inter-island passenger ferry departed Nonouti Island in Kiribati on 18 January for a two-day trip to Betio, a town in Kiribati.
However, the 17m-long wooden catamaran did not reach its destination as scheduled.
Local authorities noted that the boat ran had aground and underwent a series of repairs to its propeller shaft before leaving Nonouti Island.
MV Butiraoi is equipped with a high-frequency radio, though it is currently unclear whether the ferry has enough fuel and emergency supplies on-board.
Aircraft from Australia and the US Coast Guard are also expected to join the search for the missing MV Butiraoi.
