MOSCOW(Sputnik) — At least seven people died and one person is missing a after fishing boat sunk near a New Zealand harbor, local media reported Sunday.
According to The Sun newspaper, citing local authorities, the incident occurred during a heavy storm near the Kaipara harbor in northern New Zealand. The boat named Francie, with 11 people on board, alerted the coast guard that it was trying to pass a sandbar to enter the bay. Shortly following, the connection with the vessel was lost, and the coast guard raised the alarm.
Local police said that the rescuers managed to pull three people out of water and delivered them to a local hospital. The boat disappeared from view and is believe to have sunk, but the the wreckage has not yet been found.
The search and rescue operation, as well as an investigation into the incident, are currently underway.
