PORTER | Emergency rescue crews in helicopters, boats and all-terrain vehicles continued to search Saturday night for a 13-year-old Chicago boy who disappeared in the water off Porter Beach in the Indiana Dunes State Park in the afternoon.

Dive teams from more than a dozen agencies responded to the 1:30 p.m. report of the disappearance, said Porter Fire Chief Lewis Craig Jr. Rescuers were hampered by rough waters on Lake Michigan.

An effort by divers to find the boy was called off soon after they started because of the high waves, Craig said. That effort was to resume this morning, Indiana Conservation Officer Bob Cauffman said.

The family of the boy had set up a vigil by the shore and waited into the night as rescuers continued to search.

The name of the boy was not being released as of Saturday night, Cauffman said.

Eric Edington, of Burbon, Ind., was at the beach swimming when the accident occurred. He said everyone was ordered out of the water and then an effort was made to recruit volunteers who were good swimmers to link arms and search.

Edington was among about 100 people who formed two lines to search the turgid water. They were ordered to halt the effort after about 15 to 20 minutes because of the rough water conditions.

Two helicopters, a boat from the Portage police and personal watercraft continued the search for several hours. Among the other departments with personnel on the scene were Porter, Burns Harbor, Beverly Shores, Chesterton, Lakes of the Four Seasons, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, conservation officers, officers from the Dunes National Lakeshore and the state park, Ogden Dunes, Porter County, Lake County and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The beach was crowded with swimmers and sunbathers, who were kept out of the water during the search.

Times staff writer Keith Benman contributed to this report.