The U.S. Coast Guard has initiated a search for five individuals following the capsizing of a fishing vessel near Juneau, Alaska.
In the early hours of Sunday, a distress signal was sent from the approximately 50-foot fishing vessel, known as the Wind Walker, indicating calamity near Alaska’s capital. The Coast Guard reported that the boat overturned in turbulent seas off Point Couverden, southwest of Juneau, but subsequent attempts to establish further contact with the crew failed.
The rescue operation commenced when the crew’s distress call was intercepted by the nearby AMHS Hubbard ferry, which promptly made its way to the location. In tandem, the Coast Guard deployed both an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a response boat to aid in the search efforts.
The challenging rescue operation faced severe weather conditions, with the region experiencing heavy snowfall, winds reaching speeds of 60 mph, and waves rising to six feet. This section of the Gulf of Alaska was also under a winter storm warning, complicating the rescue mission further.
During the search, responders discovered seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights in the vicinity, signifying the urgency of the situation. Reports from individuals familiar with the crew suggest there were five people aboard the Wind Walker, although the Coast Guard has yet to verify this number.
The rescue operation continues amid harsh weather conditions as efforts are made to determine the fate of the missing crew from the Wind Walker.
Source: WSVN
