One dead and two missing after boat carrying 19 sinks near Alcatraz Island
One person has died and two others are missing after a boat carrying 19 people sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.
Sixteen people have been rescued and search efforts are continuing following the incident.
The three-deck vessel, which has been described as a ‘pontoon pleasure boat’, was around 550 meters away from the island when disaster struck.
When first responders arrived at the scene, the boat was found almost fully under water, with its motor still running and fuel leaking and exhaust fumes coming from the still-operating motor.
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Upon arrival only the top level of the boat was above water, and it has since sunk completely below the surface.
According to the Independent, first responders found an individual at the scene and began 'immediately' CPR.
The person was taken to the shore but sadly was later pronounced dead.
In a statement on social media, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Luri said: “This afternoon, there was a boat that sunk in the San Francisco Bay.
"SFFD, in coordination with SFPD, Oakland PD, and the Coast Guard, responded to the scene right away—so far, they’ve rescued 16 passengers with two people missing and one deceased.
"My thoughts are with that person’s family, and I am hoping for a quick recovery for all who were affected. Multiple agencies continue to search for those who are missing.
"I am grateful for the swift and dedicated work of all of our first responders. And thank our partners for showing up for San Francisco."
It had initially been reported that the three-deck boat had sunk due to an onboard fire, but San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said ‘we now don’t have any evidence of that’.
He told reporters that some of the people rescued had injuries from falling into the water but said no one had sustained any burns.
Three of those rescued were taken to hospital for treatment, as yet the extent of their injuries has not been reported.
The US Coast Guard said: “There were 19 people reported aboard the vessel. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and a triage area has been established ashore.”
According to reports all of those onboard are believed to be adults.
A dog onboard has also died.
Crispen said there are divers in the water and 11 vessels and some helicopters have been dispatched and are out looking for them.
The mayor also confirmed that private boats are helping in the search.
“We are going to continue for hours to make sure that we find these two missing people,” he said.
Mayor Daniel Lurie said at a press conference: “This is an all hands on deck search and hopefully rescue.
“We're going to keep at it and I just want to say thank you to all of the agencies who have come together at this time.”
In a statement to the Independent, a spokesperson for the US Coast Guard said: “The Coast Guard’s top priority is the safety of everyone involved.
“Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and we will provide additional information as it becomes available.”
At the time of writing, rescuers had been searching for around three hours.
Officials told the publication that whitecaps could make search efforts more difficult but stressed that they will not be giving up.
As yet, the names of those involved in the incident have not been publicly released.
Topics: US News
Claire Reid