Authorities reported that three individuals lost their lives, four were injured, and nine are unaccounted for after a boat, believed to be carrying undocumented immigrants, was washed ashore north of San Diego early Monday morning.
Chris Sappy from the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the small vessel capsized at dawn, later reaching the coast around 6:30 a.m., as noted by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Nick Buckwurris.
A doctor who happened to be hiking nearby contacted authorities, mentioning that he saw someone performing CPR on the beach. It sounds quite frantic, doesn’t it?
All four survivors were taken to the hospital, but efforts continue to locate the missing individuals. According to reports, Sappy identified the boat as a panga, which, although originally meant for fishing, is often associated with smuggling operations.
The petty officer remarked, “They were not tourists; they are thought to be immigrants.”
“This was a massive casualty incident,” stated Jorge Sanchez, Associate Fire Chief of Encinitas.
The U.S. Coast Guard has dispatched ships and helicopters to aid in the ongoing search, but Sappy mentioned that the boat’s origin is still unknown.
Authorities utilized bulldozers to clear vessels over 20 feet during search efforts. They discovered various items, including shoes, life vests, water bottles, and empty waterproof phone cases among the debris.
Tragically, smuggling attempts frequently result in dire situations. Just this year, two smuggling boats near San Diego capsized, claiming eight lives.
