American family disappears in Brazil after pirates raid their boat on Amazon river

Authorities are still searching for the Heart family

A man exits a canoe in Brazil's Para state, where the Heart family disappeared (REUTERS/Nacho Doce)

An American family traveling through the Amazon region has gone missing after their vessel was robbed by river pirates.

The Associated Press reported that the Heart family - husband Adam, wife Emily and two children - were among those on a ferry traveling in the Amazon River Delta area on Sunday when the vessel was attacked in northern Brazil.

“Several heavily armed men boarded the ferry and pusher and kept the passengers and crew hostage for hours,” a police representative was quoted telling FocusOn News, adding that there were reports the family jumped into the river to escape their captors.

Authorities said pirates fled the scene after forcing the boat to dock and seizing belongings onboard, according to the Associated Press. They arrived at the scene to find the Heart family missing.

“We have launched a full search with the civil police, military police, air rescue and fire department involved”, the Daily Mail quoted a Ministry of Public Security and Social Defence spokesperson saying.

According to the AP, authorities said the family had been living in the city of Florionapolis.

The family’s travels are documented in a blog that say an initial plan for a year-long trip to Tiera Del Fuego instead turned into an indefinite adventure.

“They are blisfully enjoying life on the slow road, with no end in sight”, the blog says.