Four students have drowned in the waters off Forbidden Island in the Commonweatlh of the Northern Marianas.
The victims were with a group of 17 students who went to the island to hike and have a picnic.
The Marianas Variety says a preliminary investigation indicates the students had been hiking on the southern side of the island just by the reef line when a big wave hit them, carrying several individuals into the open sea.
Three men and two woman were carried out to sea while the rest of the students sustained minor scratches.
One of the men was rescued alive.
