Two children were among five people rescued in the South Pacific island nation of Kiribati after being adrift at sea in a 20ft skiff for three months.

The boat carrying nine people went missing on 30 July after failing to reach Micronesia’s Ruo Island, the US Coast Guard in Guam said.

The search was called off after officials found no signs of the missing boat or those abroad, despite combing 85,700sqkm for 10 days.

However, villagers on Fanning Island in Kiribati spotted the skiff last week and brought five passengers to safety. The boat was found 5,400km away from where the group was last seen, according to reports.

“Incredible and wonderful news, these five folks were found and are receiving care,” the US Coast Guard told the Associated Press.

“Our profound condolences to family and friends of those who did not arrive with them.”

The nine had been making a one-hour crossing between the islands of Murilo and Ruo when they were caught in a storm, turning their short trip into a months-long ordeal of starvation and death.

The boat ran out of fuel while returning home and blew off course, according to Arthur Irons II, an official in the Micronesian state.

He told the New York Times that the passengers saw ships and planes in the distance and waved for help, but their vessel was too far away.

After spending almost 100 days at sea, the passengers saw an island in the distance before their skiff ran aground.

The three men and two teenagers were guided into town by the rings of the church bells. The villagers at first presumed the survivors were drunk as they stumbled into the town.

Four others, including a child, died during the months at sea, according to the report.

Lawmaker Kaotitaake Rakoroa in Kiribati told ABC the survivors were being cared for by a pastor on the island.

Nursing officer Paukin Tororo said that all five were severely dehydrated and malnourished. The survivors were put on intravenous drips and were showing signs of recovery. “They can give a smile face, they show the sign they want to eat,” she told the ABC.

Micronesia’s Chuuk state governor Alexander Narruhn said he had begun talks with the Kiribati government to bring the survivors home.

“There were nine people aboard the boat that went missing. Thanks be to God for his love and mercy that five of the nine have been found,” the governor said.

“We continue to pray for their four companions,” he added.

Last week, an 18-year-old was rescued between the islands of Tarawa and Maiana after drifting for 41 days, while his cousin died during the ordeal.

The pair had embarked on a fishing trip off northern Bougainville in September, but an engine failure left them adrift at sea.