One person is dead and two others are missing after a pontoon boat believed to be carrying 19 people sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday.
Another 16 people have been rescued and taken ashore at Fort Mason, the fire department said. Authorities told the San Francisco Chronicle it appears an explosion took place onboard.
Three survivors have been brought to California Pacific Medical Center Van Ness to treat unspecified injuries.
San Francisco firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard began responding to the incident around 3:30 p.m.
The Coast Guard initially described the incident as a “vessel fire,” though the fire department later said it did not encounter evidence of a fire on the vessel or among survivors.
“Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and a triage area has been established ashore,” the Coast Guard wrote in a statement on X.
A dog onboard the vessel died, the fire department said.
Local news footage showed the maroon and white boat sinking beneath the waves.
The Independent has contacted the San Francisco Fire Department, Coast Guard and mayor’s office for comment.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.
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