Difficult search goes on for 6 people lost in sea

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Frustrated by furious winds, mountainous seas and a mere five-hour window of December daylight, rescuers searched Thursday for six people lost in the Bering Sea after the Coast Guard helicopter that had plucked them from a crippled freighter crashed in the darkness.

The ship they left behind ran aground and split apart, spilling thousands of gallons of fuel that threatened sensitive wildlife habitats on the western side of Unalaska Island in the Aleutian chain. Environmental officials said it could take months to clean up.

“You’ve got bunker oil streaming from a ship that’s broken in half,” said Kurt Fredriksson, acting commissioner for the Department of Environmental Conservation, said Thursday. “We are in winter and in a very difficult Aleutian Island environment that will put everybody to the test.”

Searchers hoped the missing crew had somehow lived through the night, but 43-degree waters reduced survival estimates to about three hours. Rescuers were hampered by seas that swelled to 20 feet and wind that howled at 35 mph.

“Those high winds make flying difficult and is going to make for choppy seas,” Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Roger Wetherell said. “If somebody is out there riding a wave, you may not see them.”

Searchers reported improving visibility, but limited daylight forced them to wait until after sunrise at 10 a.m. to resume rescue flights. They continued searching after darkness fell Thursday.

The rescue helicopter crashed into the sea Wednesday carrying 10 people – seven crew members and three Coast Guard personnel. Four were rescued by a second helicopter and in good condition Thursday. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

The missing crew members included one Filipino and five people from India.

The freighter’s captain and a rescue swimmer who had remained on the vessel were also rescued shortly before the ship broke up. Eighteen other crew members were previously evacuated.