(HICKMAN, Ark.) (April 8) — Two men are missing after the barge on which they were working capsized Tuesday afternoon on the Mississippi River, KFSM 5 News reported. The workers were unloading 50,000-pound steel coils at the Kinder Morgan facility in Hickman when the incident occurred. The U.S. Coast Guard shut down part of the river as rescue crews searched for the men.
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UPDATE
The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) (April 11) — The Coast Guard suspended its search for two men near a sunken barge in Hickman Landing, Thursday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday that two people were missing after a barge capsized and sank in the Mississippi River.
The Coast Guard, along with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Mississippi County (Ark.) Sheriff's Department and Lauderdale County Emergency Rescue, conducted multiple searches.
In total, rescue crews searched for more than two days and covered more than 54 miles.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the missing as we make this difficult decision," said Capt. William Drelling, commander, Sector Lower Mississippi River.
The search is suspended pending further developments.
