One person died and two remained missing Tuesday afternoon after a pontoon boat carrying 19 people capsized in the waters off San Francisco, authorities reported.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen stated that rescue crews arrived near Alcatraz Island to find a three-deck pontoon vessel mostly submerged. Sixteen individuals were rescued from the water, with one later succumbing to their injuries. Authorities are continuing to search for the two missing individuals using divers, helicopters, and multiple vessels.
The incident was initially reported as a fire, but Crispen confirmed there was no evidence of that. Some individuals sustained injuries from falling into the water, but no burn injuries were reported.
All rescued individuals were transported to Gashouse Cove Marina. The emergency call was received shortly after 3:30 p.m. for the vessel, described as a pleasure boat, located approximately 600 yards from Alcatraz.
The boat is believed to have launched from the St. Francis Yacht Club. Local news footage showed a Fire Department boat assisting with rescues, with debris visible in the water near the largely submerged vessel. Emergency personnel were seen attending to a man and a woman wrapped in blankets near an ambulance.
The Coast Guard and the Oakland Police Department also assisted in the rescue operation.