The police maritime service in Kiribati said that 15 people have been confirmed dead and 18 others were still missing following last week's boat accident, according to Radio New Zealand International on Wednesday.

The accident occurred at the beginning of last week when a double-hulled canoe set sail from Tarawa to Maiana about 60 km to the south. It was the Pacific island country's biggest reported disaster at sea,

The Commander of the Police Maritime service in Kiribati, John Mote, said 55 people were believed to have been on board the vessel and 22 people have survived the disaster.

Source: Xinhua