Five people are missing, and two have been rescued after a crab boat sank Tuesday night near Alaska’s Sutwik Island, the U.S. Coast Guard (USGS) said.
The 130-foot crab fishing vessel, called Scandies Rose, is currently operating out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and is managed by a Seattle-based company. The vessel seasonally works with a Seattle-based seafood wholesaler.
The vessel’s last known position was 170 miles southwest of Air Station Kodiak, and it sank at about 10 p.m. with seven crew members on board, USCG said in a statement.
The USCG reported turbulent conditions in the area, with 40 mph winds, 15- to 20-foot seas, and one-mile visibility.
“We are conducting an extensive search in a 300-square mile area,” said Lt. Wade Arnold, command duty officer at 17th District command center.
A USCG helicopter, the Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk, arrived on the scene after receiving a mayday distress call at about 10 p.m. Two crew were found and airlifted from a life raft. They were later taken to a hospital in Kodiak. They are in stable condition, radio station KUCB reported. An empty life raft was also located.
The crew of another fishing vessel, Time Bandit, issued a message after the incident.
“We were deeply saddened to learn of the loss of the Scandies Rose and ask for prayers for their Captain and crew and for the Coast Guard team who continues to search for the missing crew members,” they wrote on Twitter.
USCG District 17 spokeswoman Melissa McKenzie said it is unclear why the vessel sank.
“We don’t know what the cause of it was,” McKenzie said, according to KUCB. “Right now, our primary focus is trying to find the five people who are still missing. Once the search and rescue aspect of this has concluded, then we will start focusing on the investigation side of it.”
