One person has died and a passenger remains missing after a boat carrying 20 people sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.
The Volare, a 50-foot cabin cruiser based in Stockton, went down about 600 yards from the island after authorities received reports of a vessel on fire at around 3.30pm on Tuesday.
San Francisco Fire Department and US Coast Guard crews responded, along with marine units from the San Francisco and Oakland police departments and private vessels.
Thirteen people were brought safely to shore, while three were taken to hospital in stable condition. Most of their injuries were impact injuries sustained when they jumped into the water, officials said.
A police marine unit found a man in the water in “severe distress” and brought him aboard, where CPR was performed. He was taken to Gashouse Cove but was later declared dead.
As of July 27, one passenger remained missing. Eleven vessels were involved in the search, which authorities said would continue through the night.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said there had been no sign of a fire when rescue crews arrived, despite the initial report. Witnesses told officials the seas were rough and that the vessel appeared to take on water before overturning.
“The information we have is that it left from St. Francis Yacht Club, and the initial report was a vessel on fire,” Mr Crispen said. “Upon arrival, our members did not evidence any fire.”
All those on board were adults, and most were family members. Officials said they understood the group had been taking part in a memorial service.
A family reunification centre was established at Fort Mason, west of Fisherman’s Wharf, where those brought safely ashore were taken.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said: “I want to make sure that every family member out there and everybody knows that we are in an active search. This is an all-hands-on-deck search and, hopefully, rescue.”
