Two people stranded in open water have been rescued as a search continues for a woman missing from an overturned vessel in the Torres Strait.
The 68-year-old woman was reported missing after the vessel overturned near Mabuiag Island in the Torres Strait on Thursday.
The vessel was about three nautical miles off the southeast end of the island when an emergency beacon was activated about 2pm.
A wide-ranging surface and aerial search involving multiple aircraft and vessels was launched before two people were rescued after 90 minutes in the water.
A 34-year-old male and a 22-year-old female were taken to Thursday Island Hospital for treatment.
The search continues for the third female passenger as police hold serious concerns for her welfare.
Investigations into the cause of the incident come about a month after authorities in the region called off the search for an outrigger paddler whose vessel was found near Thursday Island.
– AAP