BOGOTA - The Colombian navy rescued 33 people from a broken boat drifting in the Pacific Ocean, Colombian Naval Force of the Pacific said Sunday.

Commander of the Naval Force admiral Hernando Wills said that the boat sailed from Jurado in northwestern Colombia to Buenaventura in the southwestern part of the country.

The boat had "failures in the propulsion" and its occupants had been drifting for some 24 hours before they were rescued, he added.

"We were able to rescue all of them. The navy took them to Malaga base. One lady was nervous, but fortunately there were not any more events," he said.

Seven children were among the 33 rescuees.

The boat had been towed to the Buenaventura port.