2 stranded sailors rescued after writing ‘SOS’ in sand

HAGATNA, Guam — Two mariners stranded for days on an uninhabited Pacific island were rescued after writing "SOS" in the sand.

A Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft crew responding to a report of flashing lights spotted the sailors Wednesday on a beach near the makeshift sign on an uninhabited island in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, according to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The survivors were picked up on Friday and transferred by the patrol boat Palikir to Nomwin Atoll, the release stated.

The Coast Guard received notification Aug. 19 of an overdue 18-foot vessel with two people aboard that was bound for Tamatam Island. The two sailors had left Weno Island on Aug. 17 with limited supplies and no emergency equipment on board, the news release stated.

During the seven-day search, Coast Guard searched a total of 16,571 square miles, the release stated.