The Coast Guard reports that a total of eight people are safe, with no injuries reported, after two separate sinkings in Southeast last night and this morning.
The first happened before midnight near Lung Island, south of Petersburg, when the 75-foot tender Pacific Queen began taking on water.
Three people on board abandoned ship and escaped in a life raft. They were picked by another fishing vessel for transport into Petersburg.
The Coast Guard had dispatched an H-60 helicopter from Sitka to help with possible evacuation of the Pacific Queen’s crew.
The second incident happened about 4:30 this morning when the 56-foot seiner Coral Sea ran aground near Dall Island, off the coast of southern Prince of Wales island.
Five people on that vessel abandoned ship into a life raft and were picked up by another nearby fishing vessel. The vessel reportedly is only partially sunk, possibly on its side.
The Coast Guard says it will be monitoring both sinkings for any possible pollution.
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