SAN FRANCISCO: One person was killed and two others remained missing after a triple-deck pontoon boat carrying 19 people capsized near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation, officials said.
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, 13 passengers were rescued safely and brought ashore, while three others were transported to hospital for treatment. One person succumbed to injuries despite emergency resuscitation efforts, and search teams continued efforts to locate the two missing individuals.
What Happened During the Boat Accident?
Fire Chief Dean Crispen said the first rescue vessel, operated by the police, arrived shortly after the incident and found one passenger critically injured. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered, but the victim could not be saved.
Local television footage showed the vessel almost entirely submerged, with only its upper section remaining above the water before it sank completely beneath the surface.
Authorities confirmed there were 19 people aboard the boat at the time of the accident.
What Is Known About the Rescue Operation and Investigation?
The US Coast Guard joined the San Francisco Fire Department and other emergency agencies in an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving 11 vessels.
“We are still conducting an active search of the area,” Fire Chief Crispen said, adding that rescue crews would continue searching for several hours in an effort to locate the missing passengers.
Officials said the cause of the accident remains under investigation. Crispen also clarified that, contrary to initial reports, there was no fire aboard the vessel before it capsized.
Weather conditions at the time were reported to be clear and sunny, although strong eastbound currents in San Francisco Bay created rough waters with visible whitecaps, according to local television footage.
The incident occurred near Alcatraz Island, a major tourist destination and National Historic Landmark known for its former federal prison, which operated from 1934 to 1963. The island has long been associated with strong currents and cold waters that historically made escape attempts extremely difficult.