The search for three individuals who went missing during a memorial trip in San Francisco Bay concluded Wednesday evening, as authorities shifted their focus from rescue to recovery.
A 49-foot yacht named Volare capsized in turbulent waters roughly 600 yards from Alcatraz Island around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The vessel overturned and sank in about 130 feet of water.
On board were 20 friends and family members of a Stockton resident gathered to scatter their loved one’s ashes during the memorial service.
Clifford Joseph Boasa, aged 79, tragically died after being rescued from the cold waters.
While 16 others were saved, three passengers still remain unaccounted for and could have become trapped inside the submerged cabin.
Nearby fishing boats quickly came to assist, with good Samaritans managing to pull eight to nine survivors from the chilly bay ahead of first responders’ arrival.
The U.S. Coast Guard conducted searches over an area of 950 square nautical miles for over 24 hours before calling off the operation on Wednesday.
Captain Jared S. Totsuko mentioned that while it’s possible the missing passengers could have survived, they may be trapped below deck.
“We know some individuals were on the main deck and potentially below deck,” Totsuko indicated.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie referred to the incident as “heartbreaking” and echoed the city’s sentiments of sadness for those impacted.
He commended first responders for their “intensive operation,” noting the comprehensive use of resources and technology that enabled them to rescue 16 individuals from the sinking yacht.
Officials have located the wreck, and they will assess whether it is safe for divers and underwater drones to begin recovery efforts.
