American authorities say five people are missing after a fishing boat capsized off the southeast coast of Alaska.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a distress call from the crew on board at 12:10 a.m. Sunday, saying the boat was capsizing, according to a news release.
The institution requested additional information, but received no response.
Witnesses who knew the boat, called Wind Walker, reported that at least five people were on board, but the number has not been confirmed and could change, the Coast Guard said.
The organization also reported having received an emergency radio alert, indicating the possible location of the vessel that was found near the Icy Strait, southwest of the state.
In response to the rescue, the Coast Guard sent air and sea teams to assist in the search mission, launching an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a 40-foot vessel.
Officials said the AMHS Hubbard ferry heard an urgent transmission from the guard and was the first to arrive on the scene.
During the search, rescuers faced 1.5 meter waves, heavy snowfall and wind gusts of up to 96 km/h.
They also found seven diving suits and two strobe lights.
The National Weather Service issued a warning to small boats in the Couverden Point area until midnight Sunday, warning that winds could still exceed 50 mph causing choppy waves.
The wind combined with heavy snowfall could still reduce visibility to a kilometer or less, the service warned.
This content was originally published in US Coast Guard search for five missing in shipwreck in Alaska on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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