Hope Fades For Missing After Alcatraz Boat Disaster (Worthy News In-Depth) (VIDEO)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO, USA (Worthy News) – Hope of finding additional survivors was fading early Wednesday after a pontoon boat sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, killing one person and one dog and leaving three others missing, authorities said.

Sixteen people aboard the vessel were rescued, authorities confirmed.

The boat was reportedly carrying mainly family members attending a memorial service.

San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said investigators found no evidence of a fire, although witnesses initially believed the boat was burning. “The boating mishap was initially reported as a fire, but we now don’t have any evidence of that,” Crispen told reporters. Video footage obtained by Worthy News showed the vessel sinking.

SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS CONTINUES

The person who died was pulled alive from the cold water but later died despite rescue efforts, officials said. A dog aboard the vessel also died.

Three injured survivors were hospitalized and were expected to recover.

The search involved the U.S. Coast Guard, the San Francisco Fire Department, Oakland police, helicopters, divers, rescue boats, and nearby civilian vessels that helped pull victims from the water.

Crews arriving on the scene near Alcatraz Island found the three-deck recreational vessel almost fully submerged, with its engine still running and leaking fuel into the bay, Crispen said.

Authorities said the emergency unfolded shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time, about 600 yards (550 meters) from Alcatraz Island, one of San Francisco’s best-known tourist attractions, where cold Pacific waters, powerful tides, and rapidly changing weather can quickly become hazardous.

“Right now we are in full rescue mode,” Crispen said, adding that witness accounts suggested “there were rough seas and the vessel began to take on water and was turned over in the bay.”

ROUGH SEAS COMPLICATE RESCUE

By Tuesday evening, rescue crews had expanded their search into the open waters west of the Golden Gate Bridge, using boats, helicopters, divers, and aircraft in an effort that continued through the night.

Authorities also revised the number of missing people from two to three after interviewing witnesses and determining that about 20 people had been aboard the vessel. The identities of the victims had not been released pending notification of relatives.

Nearby private boats also played a crucial role in rescuing people from the water before emergency crews reached the scene. The American Red Cross and city agencies later assisted survivors and relatives at a reunification center.

Officials stressed that the cause of the sinking remains under investigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the investigation, while the National Transportation Safety Board was expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the sinking, including the vessel’s condition, the weather, sea conditions, maintenance history, and any other contributing factors.

BOATING SAFETY UNDER SCRUTINY

The accident renewed attention to the dangers of boating in San Francisco Bay, where strong currents, frigid water, dense fog, and rapidly changing winds have contributed to numerous maritime emergencies over the years.

Cold-water immersion can become life-threatening within minutes, even for experienced swimmers, while rapidly changing weather and powerful tidal currents can quickly overwhelm recreational boats, according to U.S. Coast Guard safety guidance.

Among the deadliest U.S. recreational boating disasters in recent years was the 2018 Duck Boat tragedy near Branson, Missouri, in which 17 people died after an amphibious tourist vessel sank during a severe thunderstorm.

In California, the 2019 Conception dive boat fire off Santa Cruz Island claimed 34 lives, becoming one of the nation’s worst modern maritime disasters. More recently, fatal boating accidents involving recreational vessels have also occurred in states including Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and New York, underscoring broader concerns about boating safety across the United States.

The investigation was continuing Wednesday as authorities sought to determine what caused the vessel to sink. The U.S. Coast Guard has long advised recreational boaters to wear life jackets and closely monitor weather and water conditions before heading out.

Latest Worthy News