One person has died and three others remain missing after a boat carrying 20 adults capsized near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews launched a large search and rescue operation as soon as reports of the accident reached local authorities.
Officials said the passengers were taking part in a memorial service aboard the vessel when the incident happened. Most of the people on board were members of the same family. The group was traveling on a 50-foot, three-deck cabin cruiser based in Stockton.
Authorities believe the boat may have been struck by a wave while moving through rough water. Weather and water conditions in the bay were challenging at the time of the accident, although investigators are continuing to examine the exact cause of the capsizing.
Emergency responders arrived quickly after receiving reports of the sinking vessel. Rescue teams found people in several different situations. Some passengers were already in the water, some remained on the sinking boat, and others were seen falling into the bay as the vessel went down.
A man who was found in the water was in critical condition when rescue crews reached him. First responders brought him aboard a rescue boat and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Despite their efforts, he was later pronounced dead.
Officials also confirmed that a dog traveling on the boat did not survive the accident.
Rescue teams were able to save 13 people from the water and the damaged vessel. Three additional passengers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities said those individuals were stabilized and were expected to be released after receiving medical care.
The search for the three missing passengers continued into the night. Rescue crews searched both the water and the air as they worked to locate anyone still missing. Coast Guard personnel and local emergency agencies coordinated the operation across the bay.
Fire officials said the response included 11 rescue boats, divers, and other specialized emergency resources. Helicopters also searched from above while rescue teams scanned areas where people in the water might drift because of wind and currents.
Authorities said the operation would continue as long as conditions remained safe for rescue crews. Officials stressed that finding the missing passengers remained the highest priority.
The boat departed from the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco before the accident occurred. Investigators are reviewing the events leading up to the capsizing and will continue gathering information from survivors and witnesses.
Television footage from the scene showed several rescue boats surrounding floating debris in the water. Some of the rescued passengers were later seen on shore wrapped in blankets while receiving assistance from emergency personnel.
Local police marine units, firefighters, the U.S. Coast Guard, and private boats all joined the rescue effort. The combined response reflected the seriousness of the incident and the difficult conditions facing search teams.
Officials noted that strong winds often create rough water and whitecaps in San Francisco Bay during this time of year. These conditions can make navigation more difficult, especially for larger recreational boats carrying many passengers.
Alcatraz Island sits about one mile from the San Francisco shoreline. The island is widely known for its former federal prison, which closed in 1963. Today, it is a popular national park and tourist destination that attracts visitors from around the world.
Authorities said the search area was carefully planned using weather conditions, water currents, and information from survivors. Divers continued searching below the surface while aircraft monitored larger sections of the bay.
The investigation into the cause of the accident remains ongoing. Officials have not yet released further details about what caused the vessel to capsize. Emergency teams will continue search operations while investigators work to determine exactly how the tragedy unfolded.
