Five vanish after a fishing boat capsizes in Alaska’s icy waters during a fierce winter storm.

Five individuals are reported missing after a fishing vessel, the Wind Walker, capsized off the southeastern coast of Alaska amid harsh winter conditions.

The U.S. Coast Guard received a mayday call at 12:10 a.m. on Sunday from the crew of the 50-foot-long boat, notifying them that the vessel was overturning. Attempts by the Coast Guard to gather additional information were unsuccessful, with no response from the crew following the initial distress signal.

According to the Coast Guard, people familiar with the Wind Walker indicated that five individuals were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident.

However, this number has not been officially confirmed and may change. An emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert pinpointed the location of the boat near Point Couverden, south of Juneau, in Icy Strait.

In response to the mayday call, the Coast Guard immediately deployed both air and sea rescue teams. These included an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a 45-foot Response Boat, which navigated through challenging conditions to aid in the search efforts.

The ferry vessel AMHS Hubbard was the first to arrive at the scene after overhearing the Coast Guard’s urgent broadcast.

Search teams encountered extreme weather, including six-foot waves, heavy snowfall, and wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph.

In the search area, responders found seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights floating in the water, but there was no sign of the missing crew members.

The National Weather Service had issued a small craft advisory for the area around Point Couverden until midnight Sunday.

The advisory warned of winds exceeding 50 mph, which could produce dangerous waves and significantly reduce visibility to one mile or less. The severe conditions, combined with the snowfall, made the search efforts even more perilous.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for the region until 3 a.m. Monday, with an additional 5 to 8 inches of snow expected.

However, temperatures are predicted to rise above freezing on Monday, causing the heavy snow to transition into a rain and snow mix before turning into rainfall by Tuesday.

Despite the ongoing challenges, rescue efforts continue as authorities work against the clock to locate the missing crew members.

The situation highlights the dangers of winter storms in Alaska, where treacherous conditions can quickly turn life-threatening for those at sea.