Villagers in Yasawa-i-Rara have been recruited by police to help search for three people and a four-year-old child believed to be drifting on a boat that left Vanua Levu earlier this week.

Police sent out the alert to the northern part of Yasawa after the search began for the missing passengers who were first reported missing yesterday.

“It is believed that they had developed engine problems and the current would take them away from the reef and drifting boats would often end up in Yasawa-i—rara,” a statement from police said.

The search for the missing party continues.