SAN DIEGO – Three people are dead and seven remain missing after a panga-style fishing boat capsized off the coast near San Diego, officials said. The incident occurred about 35 miles north of the Mexico border, prompting an extensive search by the U.S. Coast Guard that covered more than 520 square nautical miles over nearly 28 hours.
Authorities reported that at least 16 people, including two children, were aboard the small vessel. Four survivors were hospitalized, and two others were detained by authorities. The search for the remaining missing passengers has been suspended pending further developments, according to the Coast Guard.
The incident is being treated as a suspected case of human smuggling, with reports indicating that several Indian passports were found near the wreckage. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey told the Associated Press that vessels like the one involved are often used by smugglers. “They were not tourists,” Sappey said. “They are believed to be migrants.”
San Diego Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Nick Backouris said deputies assisted with CPR on the beach after a doctor hiking nearby alerted authorities. Jorge Sanchez, of the Encinitas Fire Department, stated that the immigration status of those involved is still unknown.
The Coast Guard has deployed a cutter and a helicopter to continue monitoring the area, while local authorities remain on alert for any further developments.
