PRESS RELEASE – The 28-foot skiff with 15 passengers, missing since Wednesday, has been located on the beach of an uninhabited island in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM),
Thursday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Guam received a report this afternoon that a vessel matching the description of the missing white 28-foot skiff with 15 passengers was found. A
vessel leaving Ruo Island, the intended destination of the missing skiff and also in FSM, saw the vessel marooned and overturned. According to the report several people were also on shore.

The mariners were found alive and reportedly in good condition with food. The group consisted of six children and nine adults: 10 males and five females, ages ranging between four and 59 years old.

Search assets combed an area approximately 16,200 nautical miles over a time period of 76.5
hours.

Coast Guard Cutter Assateague traveled 550 miles from Guam to reach the stranded survivors, and is now making plans to assist them back to Ruo or Weno in FSM.