AP, New Zealand
A chartered fishing boat carrying 10 people sank in stormy weather off the New Zealand coast, and police said three people were confirmed dead and two others were missing. Five people were rescued and the search was continuing.
The boat got into trouble and set off a distress signal on Sunday night off North Cape on the northern coast, triggering a major search and rescue operation.
Two bodies in the water were recovered by helicopter on Monday morning, and a third was recovered by a search vessel, police said.
“Air, land and water searches are ongoing in efforts to locate the two people who remain missing,” the statement said.
The five rescued people were in stable conditions at Kaitaia Hospital.
Nick Burt, a spokesman for Maritime NZ which is leading the search, said an emergency beacon was activated at 8 p.m. A helicopter became the first search and rescue vehicle to reach the remote location at 11:40 p.m., Burt told NZME media company.
Burt said he did not know whether the skipper of the fishing charter had been rescued but police were interviewing survivors.
