Yacht wrecks near Tongan island; 2 aboard missing

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga – Rescuers are searching for a Englishman and his Australian sailing companion after finding the wreck of their yacht near a Tongan island.

Geoff Lunt of New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Center said Friday that a plane and two fishing boats involved in the search had found the hull of the vessel and lots of debris but had seen no sign of the men.

Lunt said in a statement that the two men used a satellite phone late Thursday to call a relative in Australia to say they had run aground near the island of Late and their 50-foot yacht Navillus was breaking up.

An emergency locator beacon was activated about the same time, Lunt said.

Rescuers did not name the men, who are both in their 60s.