One person died, two others remained missing, and 16 people were rescued Tuesday after a three-deck pontoon boat sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation involving divers, helicopters, and multiple emergency agencies.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said crews responded shortly after 3:30 p.m. to reports of a fire aboard a vessel about 600 yards from Alcatraz. When firefighters arrived, they found the pontoon boat largely submerged, with its motor still running and leaking fuel. Authorities later said they found no evidence that a fire had occurred.
Sixteen people were pulled from the water. One of them was brought ashore in critical condition and later died despite lifesaving efforts. Three survivors were taken to the hospital with injuries suffered after falling in the water, while the remaining rescued passengers were transported to a nearby marina. A dog that had been aboard the vessel also died.
Rescue crews continued searching Tuesday evening for two missing passengers using 11 boats, rescue divers, and helicopters.
“We are still conducting an active search of the area,” Crispen said. “We have 11 vessels on the water conducting that search. We are going to continue for hours to make sure that we find these two missing people, if possible.”
The U.S. Coast Guard, San Francisco Fire Department, Oakland police, and other local agencies assisted in the response. Authorities established a family reunification center as the search continued.
Officials said the pontoon boat is believed to have departed from near the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, though the club said it did not have information about the vessel. The cause of the sinking remains under investigation.
The incident unfolded in the often cold and fast-moving waters surrounding Alcatraz Island, a popular tourist destination in the bay. Authorities have not released the names of the victim or the missing passengers pending notification of their families.
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The incident unfolded as the fate of the infamous prison remains a subject of intense debate.
President Donald Trump recently requested $152 million in federal funding to transition Alcatraz from a tourist destination back to an active high-security prison. The proposal continues to face pushback from state leaders who call the plan logistically impossible, with some estimates suggesting a full renovation of the prison would cost billions.