A water and aerial search for five people missing in Queensland's Torres Strait, after their empty boat was discovered west of their destination yesterday afternoon, has found a bag containing life jackets.
The 7-metre boat left Badu Island, about 60 kilometres north of Thursday Island, on Wednesday afternoon bound for Dauan Island, south of Papua New Guinea.
Onboard were a 22-year-old man, a 47-year-old man, two 21-year-old women and a nine-year-old boy.
Their empty boat was discovered approximately 4.5km west of Dauan Island on Thursday afternoon.
It is understood the missing people are related.
PNG police found the body of a child near Old Mawatta Village on the mainland, but because it is outside the official search area, Queensland police were trying to determine if the body was that of the missing boy.
Inspector Mark Lingwood from the Torres Strait patrol group said locals and private organisations had joined in the search.
"The community really bands together at a time like this," he said.
"We've got our fingers crossed we'll be successful.
"With each passing hour, the concerns do grow."
Inspector Lingwood said using boats to travel between islands to visit family and conduct business was very common in the region.
"From time to time, people do get reported missing," he said.
"At times, tidal conditions will change and people will be overdue and cause some issues like that.
"But all we do is keep pushing out the safety message that people can use life jackets and make sure they have their EPIRBs and follow safety procedures and not travel in rough weather."
Police said they had been in contact with the families of the missing group to keep them informed of the search and rescue efforts.
