Search Efforts Underway in San Francisco Bay
A search and rescue operation is underway in the San Francisco Bay after a cabin cruiser capsized on Tuesday afternoon, leaving three people missing. The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that the search efforts will end at sunset on Wednesday, as the probability of finding any survivors in the search area is extremely low.
According to Captain Jarod Toczko, sector commander of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, 11 boats and 4 aircraft have been searching over 950 square nautical miles of water for the missing individuals. The search area spans over 1,700 miles of track line, with the Coast Guard having ‘completely saturated’ the area.
Toczko explained that despite the extensive search efforts, none of the missing individuals have been found. He emphasized that the decision to suspend active search operations at sunset was made after considering the environmental conditions and the probability of locating a survivor within the search area.
The cabin cruiser, a 49-foot, three-level Volare, was carrying 20 people when it capsized off the coast of Alcatraz. Initially, officials reported that 19 people were on board, but it was later confirmed that there were 20 individuals, with three still missing. One person rescued was later pronounced dead, and a dog on board also perished.
Three survivors who were transported to the hospital have been released and are ‘doing okay,’ according to Dean Crispen, chief of the San Francisco Fire Department. The cause of the capsizing is under investigation, with survivors and witnesses indicating that the boat was hit by a wave that caused it to list heavily, lose its stability, and roll over.
The incident has resulted in the loss of two lives, with 79-year-old Clifford Joseph Boisa of Sutter County identified as one of the victims. The families of the missing individuals have been notified, and the Coast Guard will continue to search until sunset.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and praised the efforts of the Coast Guard, civilians, and emergency responders who saved 16 people. He noted that it was an ‘all hands-on-deck effort’ that resulted in the rescue of 16 individuals.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety at sea and the need for vigilance in emergency situations. The investigation into the cause of the capsizing is ongoing, and the Coast Guard will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
