Pontoon Boat Capsizes Near Alcatraz Island

Tragedy struck near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday when a pontoon boat capsized, leading to one fatality and leaving two people unaccounted for. Authorities reported that 19 individuals were on board the vessel at the time.

According to San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispin, 13 of the survivors made it to shore safely. The remaining six included one person who was found in the water and underwent CPR before unfortunately being pronounced dead.

The boat in question was a three-deck pontoon and capsized approximately 600 meters from Alcatraz. Crispin noted that the fire department first responded to reports of a boat fire around 3:35 p.m., only to discover the capsized vessel, with no visible signs of flames.

Search and rescue efforts have been extensive, involving 11 ships, divers, and helicopters organized by the U.S. Coast Guard, all looking for the two individuals who are still missing. “It’s a very active scene,” Crispin commented, mentioning that operations could continue into the evening.

The marine unit of the San Francisco Police found the boat primarily submerged, with fuel leaking into the water and the engine still running. Rescuers managed to locate one person in the water while others were found in the upper areas of the boat itself.

This situation is still evolving, and updates will follow as the search continues.