Update: Monday at 1:20 p.m.
The Coast Guard has suspended its search for multiple people near Couverden Point.
According to media release, Coast Guard crews searched for a full day and covered more than 108 nautical miles searching for five people whose fishing boat reportedly capsized.
The Coast Guard got a call at 12:07 a.m. from crew on the Wind Walker, a commercial fishing vessel registered in Sitka.
Original story
A search is ongoing Sunday for five people who were aboard a fishing boat that reportedly capsized near Point Couverden, located at the western entrance of Lynn Canal southwest of Juneau, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Coast Guard vessels and the Hubbard state ferry are involved in the search after a mayday call was received at 12:10 a.m. from crew aboard the 50-foot-long fishing vessel Wind Walker that stated the vessel was overturning, according to a Coast Guard press release.
“The watchstanders attempted to gather additional information but received no response,” the release states.
Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sunday the Coast Guard posted an update on its social media pages declaring “we are aware of reports on social media claiming individuals from this incident have been located. At this time, the [Coast Guard] has not confirmed these claims and is continuing search efforts.”
The Wind Walker’s registered home port is Sitka.
Weather conditions on Sunday consisted of heavy snow, winds up to 45-60 mph and six-foot seas, according to the Coast Guard. The area is under a winter storm warning expected to last until Monday morning.
An urgent marine information broadcast was issued by the Coast Guard, which also directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Juneau to search the area, according to the release.
The Hubbard, which heard the emergency broadcast, was the first to arrive at the scene, the Coast Guard reported.
“Seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been located in the water in the search area,” the release states.
Anyone with information about the situation is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska at (907) 463-2980.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at [email protected] or (907) 957-2306.