Tragedy Near San Diego: 3 Confirmed Dead, 9 Missing as Migrant Boat Capsizes
“They were not tourists,” stated U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey. “They are believed to be migrants.”
Tragically, three individuals have lost their lives and nine others are still unaccounted for following the capsizing of a small boat thought to be carrying migrants off the Del Mar coast, close to San Diego, early Monday morning, as reported by the U.S. Coast Guard.
This incident has prompted an extensive search and rescue effort that involves Coast Guard vessels, helicopters, and local law enforcement agencies as they continue the search for any survivors.
According to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey, it remains uncertain where the boat originated from before it overturned shortly after sunrise, approximately 35 miles from the Mexico border. He identified the boat as a panga, which is an open fishing vessel frequently used by smugglers.
“They were not tourists,” Sappey reiterated. “They are believed to be migrants.”
The 12-foot vessel, whose origin is still unidentified, capsized in rough surf just off Torrey Pines State Beach around 6:30 a.m., as noted by the Coast Guard.
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Witnesses, including those hiking nearby, reported seeing the boat capsize near the shore. Lt. Nick Backouris of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department noted that a doctor who was also hiking responded to the scene, stating, “I see people doing CPR on the beach, I’m running that way.”
Four individuals were transported to local hospitals for treatment, though their conditions have not yet been disclosed. The search for the nine missing persons is ongoing as rescue teams continue to comb through the coastline and waters near Del Mar.
These open boats are often utilized for fishing, but they are increasingly being used by smugglers, leading to several recent maritime incidents off Southern California, according to the Coast Guard.
In a similar incident earlier in 2023, two suspected smuggling vessels approached a San Diego beach in dense fog, resulting in eight fatalities when one of the boats capsized.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased or the missing individuals.
Last month, the U.S. Coast Guard concluded a search for five missing persons after a boat capsized in a suspected smuggling operation approximately 29 miles off the Florida coast of St. Lucie Inlet. Search crews dedicated over seven hours and covered more than 1,240 square miles before halting their efforts, having found a 25-foot vessel overturned with four individuals clinging to it.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
