Multiple people are missing after a fishing boat capsized near Point Couverden, southwest of Alaska’s capital of Juneau. The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the search for the passengers aboard the fishing vessel Wind Walker, with reports suggesting there were around five people on board. An emergency mayday call was received at 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, and search efforts were launched immediately. The distress signal was traced to the icy waters off Point Couverden in the Icy Strait.
Despite rough weather conditions, including heavy snow, strong winds, and rough seas, search crews including a helicopter and a response boat are actively searching the area. The Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a technologically advanced icebreaker, is also being used as a search platform. So far, 28 people have been rescued, but 16 remain missing.
Reports on social media claiming that individuals have been located have not been confirmed by the Coast Guard. The agency continues its search efforts in hopes of locating the missing individuals. Point Couverden is located on Couverden Island in Alaska, a small island in Haines Borough. The exact number of people missing may change as new information becomes available, but the Coast Guard is committed to locating all passengers who were on board the capsized fishing vessel.
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