According to the U.S. Coast Guard, five are reported missing after a Sunday fishing boat capsized off Point Couverden, Alaska. The Wind Walker is a 50-foot-long fishing vessel that sent out a Mayday call at 12:10 a.m. and reported distress; therefore, the vessels operating in that vicinity went into immediate action.
The AMHS Hubbard, a ferry vessel, heard the Mayday broadcast and was able to respond to the scene quickly to begin rescuing people from the water. The Coast Guard verified evidence of the boat’s capsize and began searching for survivors. Cold-water immersion suits and strobe lights were located but no further signs of the missing crew have been found.
The Coast Guard has mounted both an air and water search operation, including a helicopter crew that is leading the aerial operation. Conditions in the area remain treacherous, with high winds of up to 60 mph and sea swells reaching 6 feet. The search is being carried out in “very rough conditions,” and no estimated time for its conclusion has been provided.
The Coast Guard also received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert registered to the Wind Walker, which showed the alert had come from a position just south of Point Couverden, in the Icy Strait, a region notorious for its foul weather.
Authorities confirm there were five people aboard the vessel, although that figure is unverified and subject to change. A search for the missing individuals continues. Good Samaritans from the ferry remain in the area and continue to assist with the search efforts. No indication so far on when the search will be called off.
