SAN FRANCISCO — One person has died, three others remain missing and 16 people were rescued after a three-deck pontoon boat carrying family members during a memorial gathering sank in the waters near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene after reports that the approximately 50-foot vessel had begun taking on water before overturning in the San Francisco Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency agencies continued searching through the night for the three missing passengers, treating the operation as a rescue mission.
Boat Sank During Family Memorial Gathering
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, the pontoon boat was carrying 20 adults, most of whom were family members attending a memorial service.
Rescuers confirmed that 16 people were pulled safely from the water, while one person died. Three others remained unaccounted for Tuesday evening. Officials also said one dog aboard the vessel died in the incident.
When firefighters arrived, they found the boat nearly submerged, with its engine still running and fuel leaking into the bay.
Rough Waters May Have Contributed
Fire Chief Dean Crispen said witnesses reported that rough conditions developed shortly before the vessel capsized.
“The reports we’ve had from witnesses was that there were rough seas and the vessel began to take on water and was turned over in the bay,” Crispen said.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the three-story pontoon boat to sink and said the investigation remains ongoing.
Officials believe the vessel departed from an area near the St. Francis Yacht Club before the accident occurred.
Coast Guard Continues Search for Missing Passengers
The U.S. Coast Guard said search crews continued operating overnight using boats, helicopters and specialized search modeling technology to locate the three missing people.
Officials emphasized that the mission remains an active rescue operation rather than a recovery effort.
“We have modeling software that predicts the location of where our missing mariners could be,” a Coast Guard official said. “Throughout the night we will have surface and air assets providing coverage.”
Search teams are focusing on tidal patterns and wind conditions that could affect where the missing passengers may have drifted.
Experienced Sailor Says Such Incidents Are Rare
Longtime San Francisco Bay sailor Mike Peterson described the accident as highly unusual, saying vessels of that size rarely sink without a sudden emergency.
“It would take something happening very rapidly to cause a boat like that to go down,” Peterson said.
He added that surviving for an extended period in the bay can be extremely difficult because of rough afternoon conditions.
“You have the wind coming one way and the tide coming another. It makes it very choppy and rough. Especially in the afternoons.”
Officials say weather and water conditions will continue to be monitored as search operations remain underway.
The cause of the sinking has not yet been determined, and investigators are expected to examine the vessel once recovery operations are complete.
What are your thoughts on this tragic boating accident? Should additional safety measures be required for large recreational vessels operating in busy waterways? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
