Coast Guard searching for survivors of capsized fishing boat in Southeast Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard continued searching Monday morning for multiple missing people who were aboard a commercial fishing boat that capsized in Icy Strait southwest of Juneau.

Five people were thought to be on board based on “reports from individuals familiar with those aboard the vessel,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “This number has not been confirmed and is subject to change pending new information.”

Searchers had found cold-water safety gear and other emergency items but no people as of 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard reported heavy snow and winds up to 60 mph in the area earlier in the day, with 6-foot seas.

Two Coast Guard cutters continued the search Monday morning, a spokesman said.

Around 12:10 a.m. Sunday, the crew of the roughly 50-foot-long vessel Wind Walker reported that “they were overturning” in a mayday call received by Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders, the Coast Guard said.

“The watchstanders attempted to gather additional information but received no response,” the Coast Guard said in its statement.

They received an emergency radio beacon alert registered to the Wind Walker, with location information originating in Icy Strait south of Point Couverden, according to the Coast Guard.

Watchstanders issued an urgent broadcast and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Sitka and a 45-foot response boat from Juneau to search the area, the Coast Guard said.

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Hubbard, which was the first to arrive at the scene, had heard the broadcast and offered to help, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard said that “seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been located in the water in the search area” as responders continued searching for those missing.

As reports on social media claimed that people involved in the capsizing had been found, the Coast Guard said Sunday afternoon that it hadn’t confirmed those reports and that it was continuing its efforts, asking people with information about the search to call 907-463-2980.

The Wind Walker’s hailing port is Sitka, according to a federal database.

As of Sunday night, the Coast Guard Cutter Healy was on site and the Cutter Douglas Denman was on its way to assist, the Coast Guard said.