Missing skiff from Chuuk located at Namonuito Atoll
Six people, who had been missing at sea for four days, have been located at Namonuito Atoll which lies more than 70 miles west of their intended destination in the Hall Islands.
The six people departed Chuuk Atoll bound for the Hall Islands in an 18-foot skiff on December 23rd. They had been expected to arrive at Nomwin Atoll in the Hall Islands that afternoon, but they never did.
US Coast Guard Rescue Sub-Center Guam was notified that the six people were overdue on December 26th when the center was asked to assist the Federated States of Micronesia and Chuuk State authorities with their search for the missing skiff.
The motor vessel Andrea Palladio, an Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) volunteer participant, searched on December 27th without success. A US Navy P-8 Poseidon long-range aircraft was dispatched from Kadena Air Base, Japan and a US Coast Guard C-130 was dispatched from Hawaii to assist with the search on December 28th, however the skiff was located and the search was cancelled.
The six people have been reported to be in good health and are safe. (USCG)