Abby Sunderland, teen Sailor

A search and rescue operation is underway for a 16-year-old California girl who was trying to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone.Abby Sunderland was sailing into a storm Thursday in the Southern Indian Ocean when she lost contact with her family, according to her brother, KTLA reports. The nearest boat in the area is reported to be at least 40 hours away, KTLA says.

The Associated Press reports that an emergency beacon locating device was activated an hour after communication was broken. Sunderland left Marina Del Rey on Jan. 23 and originally planned to be at sea for five or six months.