One person is dead and at least three others are missing after a pontoon boat sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, authorities said.
The San Francisco Fire Department said 19 people were aboard the three-deck recreational pontoon when it capsized; 13 people were rescued and are safe and three others were taken to a hospital, officials said, and one person who was found severely injured was taken to shore and pronounced dead after CPR.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said, "We are still conducting an active search of the area. We have 11 vessels on the water conducting that search. We are going to continue for hours to make sure that we find these two missing people, if possible." The U.S. Coast Guard and multiple local agencies assisted, and rescue swimmers and scuba divers were deployed.
Officials said they initially received a call about a fire on the boat at 3:30 p.m. local time but had not seen evidence of a blaze; Crispen said the vessel was leaking fuel and exhaust was emitting from the still-operating motor when crews arrived and that just the top level of the boat was above water before it sank beneath the surface.
San Francisco fire Lt. Mariano Elias described the craft as a "pontoon pleasure boat" about 600 yards from Alcatraz when it capsized, and Crispen said it was believed to have set sail from St Francis Yacht Club; some passengers suffered impact injuries, a dog was declared dead, and Mayor Daniel Lurie called the response "an all-hands-on-deck search and hopefully rescue."
NBC reporter Liz Kreutz said tough weather conditions on the bay are making the rescue attempt more challenging.