A tragic maritime incident occurred Tuesday afternoon near the historic Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, resulting in one confirmed fatality and three individuals still reported as missing. The vessel involved was identified as a privately owned cabin cruiser originating from Stockton, California, and was carrying a total of 20 passengers when it encountered distress.
Emergency services were first alerted to the emergency around 3:35 pm following reports of a boat on fire approximately 600 yards (548 metres) from the island. Fire Chief Dean Crispen noted that by the time rescue teams reached the site, the vessel had already capsized. Rescuers immediately attempted to provide life-saving assistance to one individual pulled from the water, but the person was ultimately declared deceased upon arrival at the shore. At least one additional passenger was reported to have suffered severe injuries during the event.
While initial reports from the fire department indicated two people were missing, the figure was later revised to three based on witness accounts. Authorities confirmed that the remaining 16 passengers were successfully rescued from the water. A multi-agency operation involving the US Coast Guard, local police, and fire teams is currently underway, utilizing thermal imaging, tide modeling, and aerial support from helicopters and planes to locate the missing victims. San Francisco Fire Department Lieutenant Elias Mariano stated that search efforts are expected to continue throughout the night. It remains unclear whether the boat had been traveling toward Alcatraz, which serves as a prominent tourist destination.
"They immediately initiated CPR, transported that patient to the shore. They were declared deceased," Crispen said.
