A tragic maritime accident occurred in San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island, where a three-deck pontoon vessel carrying 19 people capsized before eventually sinking.
According to emergency authorities, one person lost their life, two remain missing, and 16 people were rescued from the water. Rescue teams responded quickly after receiving reports of the incident.
The first vessel to arrive at the scene was a police patrol boat. Officers found a critically injured person and immediately began CPR, but despite their efforts, the victim could not be revived.
Officials confirmed that 13 survivors were brought safely ashore, while three people were transported to hospital for medical treatment.
The U.S. Coast Guard, together with local emergency services, launched a large-scale search-and-rescue operation involving 11 rescue vessels. Search efforts for the two missing people remain ongoing.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen also clarified that earlier reports of a fire on board were incorrect. Although the weather was sunny at the time of the accident, strong easterly currents created difficult conditions on the water and complicated rescue operations.
After overturning, the pontoon vessel became almost completely submerged before sinking beneath the surface.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. Authorities continue to investigate the incident and have not released the identities of the deceased, the injured, or the missing individuals.
