The US Coast Guard has located the 28-foot skiff carrying 15 passengers on the beach of an uninhabited island in the Federated States of Micronesia, Friday, July 22. Officials began searching for the skiff between Chuuk State and Ruo Island, Wednesday, July 20, and covered almost 19,000 miles over a total period of nearly 77 hours. The skiff, which had six children and nine adults aboard, had been missing since Monday, July 18 when it left the northern pass of Chuuk lagoon.

The Coast Guard in Guam received a report from a vessel leaving Ruo Island that a vessel matching the description of the 28-foot skiff was found marooned and overturned, and that several people were also on shore. The six children and nine adults were reportedly found in good condition with food. The Coast Guard Cutter ASSATEAGUE traveled 550 miles from Guam to reach the stranded boaters, and is scheduled to assist them back to Ruo or Weno in Micronesia.