Right now, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and good Samaritans continue their search for missing crew after a 129-foot-long boat capsized Tuesday afternoon. This happened about 8 miles south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana. One person was recovered, but was pronounced unresponsive, while the search continues for an additional twelve missing boaters.

Intense storms battered the Gulf Coast with strong straight line winds, which capsized a jack boat off the coast of Louisiana.

Almost a dozen people are still missing, as the US Coast Guard continues search and rescue efforts. pic.twitter.com/AyykrxaFTq

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 14, 2021

According to the USCG based in New Orleans, Louisiana an emergency distress call was received around 4:30 p.m. CT Tuesday. The notification was for a distressed 129-foot commercial lift vessel. Then, USCG ‘watchstanders’ issued an urgent marine information broadcast, in which multiple good Samaritan boat crews responded.

The first Coast Guard crew arrived within 30 minutes and were able to rescue one person from the capsized vessel. The next USCG boat was able to rescue an additional person. Meanwhile, good Samaritan vessels on scene rescued another four people from the water. In all, six people were rescued however the search continues for additional missing crew.

As of Wednesday evening, Coast Guard rescue crews have searched more than 1,440 square miles, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island, during a combined search period of nearly 40 hours. “Our rescue crews have been diligently continuing the search and rescue efforts for the missing people from the capsized vessel,” said Captain Will Watson.

At the time of the distress call Tuesday, there were numerous thunderstorms in the area. Strong thunderstorms were moving off the southern Louisiana coastline, to the east-southeast, into the Gulf of Mexico. Wind gust estimates were between 60 and 90 miles per hour, with waves 7 to 10 feet.

Parts of Louisiana have been slammed by severe thunderstorms and flash flooding this week. Our field correspondent Brandon Clement was able to capture these scenes on Wednesday.

Strong Thunderstorms Damage Louisiana Coast – YouTube

We will continue to update this story as information becomes available.

Images courtesy the U.S. Coast Guard Heartland