A recreational pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday afternoon, leaving one person dead, three others missing, and prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation that authorities said would continue through the night and into Wednesday morning.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispin said during a news conference that 19 people were aboard the vessel when it overturned roughly 600 yards from Alcatraz Island. Officials later updated the passenger count to 20. Sixteen people were rescued, with 13 making it safely to shore and three others transported to a hospital. One of the individuals pulled from the water received CPR but was later pronounced dead, Crispin confirmed.
The San Francisco Fire Department initially responded to a report of a vessel fire around 3:35 p.m., but crews arriving at the scene found a capsized boat instead. Crispin later stated there was no evidence of a fire. The San Francisco Police Department's marine unit discovered the vessel capsized and mostly submerged, with fuel leaking into the water and the engine still running. One person was found in the water, while the remaining occupants were located inside the top compartment of the vessel and were rescued.
Authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard, deployed 11 vessels, divers, and helicopters to search for the missing individuals. Crispin described the scene as «very active» and noted that the search would likely extend into the evening. Fire Lt. Mariano Elias later told Fox News Digital that search operations would continue overnight and into Wednesday morning. The boat was described as a three-deck recreational vessel.
The incident occurred in a busy area of the bay, between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, a popular tourist destination. The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation. Officials have not released the identities of the deceased or the missing persons, pending notification of next of kin.
The search and rescue efforts involve multiple agencies coordinating across the bay, with crews using sonar and infrared technology to scan the waters. The fuel leak from the submerged vessel has raised environmental concerns, though authorities have not yet assessed the full impact. The National Transportation Safety Board may also be called in to investigate the incident, given the severity of the accident.
This tragedy adds to a series of recent boating accidents in the region, highlighting the dangers of recreational boating in the often-challenging conditions of San Francisco Bay, where strong currents and cold water temperatures can complicate rescue efforts. The community has expressed condolences for the victims and their families, while local officials have pledged a thorough investigation.
