What began as a worrying sight late Thursday night—a handful of distress flares lighting up the dark skies over the Pacific Ocean—has now turned into a frustrating mystery.
After a full day of searching, the U.S. Coast Guard has officially suspended its efforts to locate a missing vessel that was last seen roughly two miles off the coast of Cannon Beach, Oregon.
No Trace of the Boat or Its Occupants
Despite an urgent and extensive rescue operation, no sign of the vessel has been found.
The Coast Guard announced Friday morning that there was no evidence of a boat or any passengers where the flares were initially spotted.
They also couldn’t determine what type of vessel it was or how many people might have been on board.
The only clues that initially surfaced—a seat cushion, some fiberglass, and even a ketchup bottle—turned out to be unrelated.
In a later update, officials confirmed that the debris was simply regular ocean litter, not linked to any sinking ship.
Weather May Have Played a Role
Though the exact cause of the possible sinking remains unknown, photos from the scene reveal rough seas and stormy skies, hinting that weather conditions may have contributed.
It’s unclear whether the boat actually went under or managed to escape the situation.
Lt. Chris Butters from the Coast Guard spoke to OregonLive, explaining that a witness on land saw about five flares being launched from what appeared to be the front of the vessel around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
A Search with More Questions Than Answers
Rescue crews quickly mobilized with boats, a helicopter, and even an airplane scanning the area throughout the night and into Friday morning.
But with no physical evidence of a boat, no distress signals received, and no missing persons reports filed by family or friends, the mystery has only deepened.
At 10:40 a.m. Friday, the Coast Guard called off the official search.
While some monitoring and efforts may continue, officials say they’ve exhausted their active search resources for now.
Public Urged to Report Any New Information
Although the main search has been suspended, the Coast Guard is asking for help from the public.
Anyone who saw something unusual or may know anything about a missing boat is urged to contact the Sector Columbia River Command Center at 833-769-8724.
Lt. Butters also took the opportunity to remind recreational boaters and fishermen of the importance of safety planning.
“We encourage everyone that goes out on the water to file a float plan,” he said.
“Let someone know—‘If we’re not back by this time, call the Coast Guard.’”
The Mystery Lingers
For now, the ocean holds its secrets. The sighting of those flares stirred immediate concern, but with no confirmed vessel, no survivors, and no wreckage, this case remains wide open.
Whether it was a false alarm, a tragic accident, or something else entirely, only time—or new evidence—will tell.