Search teams from Wisconsin and Minnesota continued sweeping Lake Pepin Sunday morning after a pontoon overturned late Saturday night, leaving three people unaccounted for and prompting a major emergency response along the waterway.
The Pepin County Sheriff’s Office said it received a 911 call around 10:45 p.m. Saturday reporting people screaming for help in the water. Responders who arrived near Deer Island found an overturned pontoon just offshore from the YMCA camp there.
Three people were found clinging to the overturned boat and were taken from the scene. They told authorities that three other occupants had been aboard but were not located.
Ongoing multi-agency search
A joint release from the Wabasha County and Pepin County sheriff’s offices said authorities launched a coordinated search and rescue operation. As of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, officials reported an active, large-scale response on the lake.
- Rescue boats
- Drones
- Helicopters
- Other specialized search resources
The release noted the vessel was located near the YMCA camp, but emphasized that no campers or camp staff were involved in the incident.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial 911 call | Approximately 10:45 p.m. Saturday |
| Location | Offshore from YMCA Camp on Deer Island, Lake Pepin |
| People found clinging to boat | Three |
| People reported missing | Three |
| Search resources | Boats, drones, helicopters, other specialized assets |
Authorities have not released names, ages or conditions of those recovered, nor further details about the missing. The Wabasha and Pepin county sheriff’s offices described the situation as developing and said updates would be provided as they become available.
Residents and boaters on Lake Pepin should expect an extensive emergency presence in the Deer Island area while search operations continue. Officials have not issued public advisories beyond the joint release; News Block will update this report as agencies release new information.
Local law enforcement agencies handling the response ask anyone with information about the incident or who may have witnessed activity on the lake late Saturday to contact the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office.
— Brooke Steiner, Wisconsin correspondent
