New Zealand Air Force Orion in search for three people missing off Kiribati

An aerial search is underway in the waters off Tarawa, Kiribati for three people lost at sea. Photo / NZPA

An Air Force Orion is headed to a Kiribati atoll to search for three people reported missing in the Pacific Ocean.

The New Zealand Defence Force tweeted a P-3 Orion has left Auckland this morning to look for the lost trio.

The search will focus on waters surrounding Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati in the central Pacific Ocean.

BREAKING || A @NZAirForce P-3K2 Orion has left #BaseAuckland to search for three missing people near Tarawa. #Force4Good pic.twitter.com/kkYZAWxwcQ

— NZ Defence Force (@NZDefenceForce) January 22, 2018

More to come.