According to officials, an overturned vessel in almost-freezing waters off the coast of Alaska resulted in two fatalities and three successful rescues.
According to a statement by the U.S. Coast Guard, they and their collaborating agencies reacted to an overturned vessel near Chichagof Island in southern Alaska after receiving a distress call on Tuesday evening at around 4:48 p.m. local time.
According to authorities, the weather conditions at the scene were characterized by winds blowing between 8 and 10 knots, seas reaching up to a height of nine feet, water temperature measuring at around 44 degrees Celsius, and air temperature hovering near freezing point, i.e.,31 degrees Celsius.
According to authorities, a team of Air Station Sitka’s MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was dispatched and arrived at the scene by 5:15 p.m. They successfully rescued three people from the water at exactly 5:50 pm. The Coast Guard Cutters Douglas Denman (WPC 1149) and Kukui (WLB 203), as well as an HC-130 from Air Station Kodiak, were also deployed on Tuesday night for search operations near where the overturned vessel drifted in addition to finding two missing individuals; this continued throughout that evening until Wednesday morning when further searches were conducted by Air Station Sitka personnel.
Officials reported that the Sitka Fire Department joined forces with Alaska Wildlife Troopers on Wednesday afternoon, using an unmanned underwater drone to locate two deceased individuals in the cabin of a vessel after their absence had previously been noted.
Captain Darwin Jensen, who leads Sector Southeast Alaska, expressed his sadness upon receiving updates from Sitka Fire Department’s search partners regarding the individuals inside the cabin. He conveyed heartfelt condolences and support to their loved ones while expressing gratitude towards partnering agencies for their invaluable assistance throughout this case.
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Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard have stated that recovery operations for the deceased individuals will begin once on-scene conditions improve, and at present, their identities remain undisclosed.
At present, the inquiry into the occurrence is continuing.