An Air Force Orion is scouring 315,000 square kilometres of ocean around Kiribati, as the search continues for a ferry missing with about 50 people on board.
The NZ Defence Force found seven survivors from a ferry with 50 people on board that was reported missing in Kiribati a week ago. Photo: NZ Defence Force
Seven survivors were found drifting in a dinghy yesterday, raising hopes that others will be found.
The survivors were spotted yesterday morning and a fishing boat rescued them hundreds of kilometres southeast of Nauru.
Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the Orion was now looking for a life raft with other survivors.
The ferry, the MV Butiraoi, left Nonouti Island for South Tarawa on 18 January - a journey that should have taken two days.
It wasn't until last Friday that New Zealand authorities were alerted, six days after the Butiraoi was due in Tarawa.
The Kiribati cabinet has convened for a special meeting this morning, and the president is expected to make an announcement this afternoon.
RNZ Pacific understands the vessel had just undergone maintenance on its propeller after it ran aground.
A government spokesperson said it was also not carrying any kind of emergency navigation beacon.