Coast Guard: 4 missing after sailboats capsize in Alabama
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Coast Guard crews continued their search Sunday morning for at least four people missing in the water after a powerful storm capsized several sailboats participating in a regatta near Mobile Bay, Alabama.
The storm rolled through the area about 4 p.m. Saturday and a man was plucked from the waters by the Coast Guard around 9 p.m., Petty officer Carlos Vega said. He said crews would continue searching through later Sunday morning, when they would reassess their strategy.
Vega said the Coast Guard also has established a temporary public information line in order to determine whether any additional people are missing. Anyone with information is asked to call 251-441-6602 or 251-441-6920.
More than 100 sailboats and as many as 200 people were participating in the Dauphin Island regatta in Mobile Bay. Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier told Al.com that at least one person was confirmed dead, but he did not know the cause.
"It's been a very tragic day," Michael Smith, with the Buccaneer yacht club, told WSFA-TV. "We've had a lot of breakage, missing people, fatalities."
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