Missing Boat Crew: Search Underway in Alaska's Icy Waters

In the early hours of Sunday morning, a distress call was sent out from a fishing boat off the coast of southeastern Alaska. The 50-foot vessel, known as the Wind Walker, reportedly capsized in rough seas. Five people were believed to be on board, but this number isn't confirmed. The US Coast Guard received the mayday call at 12:10 a. m. , but no further communication was made. An emergency beacon helped locate the boat south of Point Couverden, near Juneau, in the Icy Strait. The Coast Guard quickly responded, sending out both helicopters and boats to search for the missing crew. The ferry vessel AMHS Hubbard arrived first, finding cold-water suits and strobe lights in the water. The weather conditions were harsh, with six-foot waves, heavy snow, and wind gusts up to 60 mph. Weather warnings were in place, with a small craft advisory for the area until midnight. The National Weather Service warned that strong winds and heavy snow could reduce visibility to just one mile. Winter storms were predicted to continue until Monday morning, with more snow expected. By Tuesday, the weather was forecasted to warm up, changing the snow to rain.