Searches for a missing boat that vanished off the coast of Oregon after firing several flairs overnight has been suspended.
The US Coast Guard said Friday that it was calling off its search for a vessel that is feared to have sunk on Thursday evening around two miles off the coast of Cannon Beach.
Rescue teams say they are unsure what type of ship or how many people were on board, and have found ‘no signs of distress’ where the flares were seen.
The cause of the sinking is under investigation, however images from the scene show inclement weather and choppy conditions on the water.
Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Chris Butters told OregonLive that around five flares were seen fired from the bow of the boat by a witness from the coast at around 9:30pm Thursday.
Officials previously said they found debris feared to be from the sunken vessel including a seat cushion, fiberglass and a ketchup bottle.
However, the Coast Guard said in an update on X on Friday afternoon that the debris was ‘determined to be general garbage.’
Authorities say they have not received any distress signals from the missing ship, and no family members have reported people missing in the area.
U.S. Coast Guard crews from Tillamook Bay and Air Station Astoria announced that they had suspended efforts to locate the vessel at 10:40am Friday local time.
A frantic search has been launched off the coast of Oregon after a boat is feared to have sunk overnight
Crews have reportedly recovered apparent debris from the sunken boat around two miles off the coast of Cannon Beach
It is unclear what kind of vessel it was and how many people may be missing. The cause of the sinking is under investigation, however images from the scene show inclement weather and choppy conditions on the water
Butters said rescue teams deployed boats, a helicopter and a plane in their failed search.
Authorities said they are continuing to search for the vessel through Friday, and urged anyone in the area with information to call the Sector Columbia River Command Center at 833-769-8724.
Butters added that anyone taking a boat out in the area should take appropriate precautions.
‘We encourage everyone that goes out on the water to file a float plan,’ he said. ‘To say, ‘Hey if we don’t come back by a certain time, call the Coast Guard.”