Second body found in Alabama waters, 5 missing

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DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (AP) — Coast Guard officials say two bodies have been found in Alabama waters after a powerful storm capsized several sailboats participating in a regatta near Mobile Bay.

Authorities at a press conference Sunday said crews still are searching for five people believed missing. They say not all the missing people were participating in the Dauphin Island regatta, which included more than 100 sailboats and as many as 200 people.

Major Steve Thompson with the Alabama Department of Public Safety's Marine Patrol Division says one person was found dead Saturday and a second was found Sunday morning.

Coast Guard Capt. Duke Walker says crews are using boats and airplanes to search vast portions of the bay, including the center and areas close to Dauphin Island where family members have gathered.

"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."

Susan Kangal, who was on a boat, told WSFA it was the worst storm that she has seen.

"We were probably an inch from capsizing; everybody was ready to jump. I didn't have a life jacket on," she said.