1 dead, 3 missing after boat sinks near Alcatraz Island

A memorial service turned tragic on Tuesday when a pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz Island, leaving one person dead and three missing. The 50-foot vessel, named Volare, was carrying 20 people, mostly family members, when it sank in the cold, choppy waters of San Francisco Bay Source: AP News. Rescuers reached the scene to find the three-deck pontoon boat almost completely submerged, with its motor still running and leaking fuel Source: The Guardian.

The Incident

The boat, described as a 'pontoon pleasure boat' by San Francisco Fire Department Lieutenant Mariano Elias, was about 600 yards from Alcatraz when the emergency call came in just after 3:30 p.m. Source: CNN. Initial reports suggested a fire, but Fire Chief Dean Crispen stated there was no evidence of fire, and that the vessel likely capsized after taking on water or being hit by a wave Source: DW News. A dog on board also died.

Search and Rescue

Sixteen people were rescued and taken to Gashouse Cove Marina. One person, pulled from the water alive, later died despite CPR efforts Source: AP News. Three others were injured and hospitalized. Search teams, including divers, helicopters, and boats, continued through the night using thermal imaging and tide prediction. By Tuesday evening, the search had expanded to the open ocean west of the Golden Gate Bridge Source: The Guardian.

Discrepancies in Reporting

Some sources initially reported two missing, later updated to three based on witness statements . Initial reports of a boat fire were later clarified as steam . The boat was believed to have launched from near the St. Francis Yacht Club, but the club had no information .