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.

Fears remain as Briton captured by pirates calls home Show all 4 1 /4 Fears remain as Briton captured by pirates calls home Fears remain as Briton captured by pirates calls home A photograph taken around last June of Rachel and Paul Chandler who were captured on their yacht in the Indian Ocean last week Handout/PA Wire Fears remain as Briton captured by pirates calls home This handout image shows the yacht Lynn Rival belonging to the Chandlers apparently taken captive by pirates off the east coast of Africa AP Photo/ EU NAVFOR Fears remain as Briton captured by pirates calls home Paul Chandler and his wife Rachel, who were kidnapped as they sailed from the Seychelles to Tanzania HO/AFP/Getty Images Fears remain as Briton captured by pirates calls home Paul and Rachel Chandler Getty Images

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.