13-year-old missing after boat sinks

A 13-year-old boy is missing after a boat he was in sank off eastern Bay of Plenty today, police said.

At about 1.20pm, the 15ft boat capsized and sank in rough seas in Schoolhouse Bay, Te Kaha, between Opotiki and East Cape.

Of the four people believed to have been in the boat, three were reported to be safe, police said in a statement.

Police, Coastguard and the Rescue Co-ordination Centre were involved and a helicopter and jetski were being used to search for the boy.

No further details of the boy or the rescued people were available.

- NZPA