3 clam diggers found dead in Alaska, 2 missing

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A company that contracted with five clam diggers working off the coast of Alaska who are now either missing or dead says it’s heartbroken by what has occurred.

Pacific Alaska Shellfish president and CEO Frank Dulcich called it “the most tragic event” in the company’s history. He says the workers are considered friends and family.

The company says it was notified Tuesday afternoon that a vessel with five of the company’s long-term clam digging contractors was overdue.

Shortly afterward, Pacific Alaska Shellfish was told that the skiff the crew was in was involved in an accident and three clam diggers were found dead southwest of Kalgin Island in Cook Inlet.

The search continued Wednesday for the other two.

It’s not clear what took down the men’s 20-foot aluminum skiff.