A tragic incident unfolded off the coast of San Diego early on Monday, when a small boat, suspected to be transporting migrants, capsized, resulting in three fatalities and leaving four individuals injured. Efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard were underway to locate seven people who were still unaccounted for after the incident.
The initial search reported nine individuals as missing; however, rescuers later located two of them, who were subsequently detained. The specific agency responsible for the detainment and the reasons behind it remain unclear, as inquiries to the U.S. Border Patrol have not been answered.
Details surrounding the boat’s origin remain scarce. Petty Officer Chris Sappey of the U.S. Coast Guard indicated that the vessel capsized shortly after daybreak, approximately 35 miles north of the Mexican border. The vessel is identified as a ‘panga,’ a type of open fishing boat often utilized by smugglers for illegal transport.
“These were not tourists,” stated Sappey, adding credence to the belief that the passengers were migrants. This marks another instance of migrants opting for perilous sea journeys facilitated by smugglers as a means to bypass heavily secured land borders, including those along California’s coastline.
After their rescue, the injured were transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla to receive medical attention for respiratory issues. The hospital’s communication reveals that among these patients are three individuals in their 30s and a teenager.
To aid in the search for those still missing, the Coast Guard deployed both a helicopter and a boat. Around 6:30 a.m., hikers and visitors at Torrey Pines State Beach witnessed the boat capsize near the shore. According to Lt. Nick Backouris from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, a nearby doctor called in a report after observing CPR being administered on individuals at the beach.
Weather conditions at the time were described as having light winds with waves around six feet, based on information from Sebastian Westerink, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. The water temperature was recorded at 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the beach, efforts were made to move the panga with a bulldozer as the search ensued. The boat, measuring over 20 feet in length, was observed with blue paint and wooden seating. Inside, a collection of running shoes, over a dozen life vests, a vacated waterproof cell phone case, and multiple water bottles were discovered, alongside a visibly damaged engine.
Historically, San Diego has witnessed tragic incidents stemming from these hazardous journeys. In 2023, an incident claimed the lives of eight individuals when two smuggling boats navigated into heavy fog, with one of them capsizing. This stands as one of the most significant maritime smuggling tragedies along the U.S. coast.
In 2022, a San Diego man was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for steering a small craft carrying 32 migrants, which disintegrated in intense surf, causing three fatalities and injuring over two dozen others. At that time, Antonio Hurtado, under the influence of narcotics, led the boat into treacherous waters and abandoned the passengers before the vessel succumbed to the waves.
The perilous nature of these border crossings continues to be highlighted by the United Nations, which reported nearly 9,000 recorded deaths worldwide last year linked to border crossings. The U.N.’s Missing Migrant Project notes that, from 2014 to 2024, over 24,506 individuals are presumed dead or missing in the central Mediterranean, with many losing their lives at sea. This figure could be conservative, as numerous tragedies remain unrecorded.
The ongoing search and rescue efforts continue as authorities and agencies work to mitigate further loss of life in such dangerous crossings.