Three children died Friday afternoon after a boat capsized during a severe storm on Geneva Lake in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
The Walworth County Sheriff's Office confirmed the boat capsized, said seven people were rescued and three fatalities were reported after a large search, and said to the best of their knowledge a total of 10 people were on the boat when it capsized.
Emergency crews rescued six adults and one child from the water, and first responders initially were told that three children were missing, police said. After an intensive search the three children were recovered from the lake; lifesaving measures were performed at the scene and continued while they were taken to a hospital, and all three were later pronounced dead, police said.
Officials said all four children who had been on the boat were wearing life jackets.
Geneva Lake police said the private motorboat was trying to get to safety when it eventually capsized and sank as powerful storms moved through the county early Friday afternoon, causing massive damage to the town and village of Sharon, the town and village of Walworth, Fontana, Linn, Geneva and Lake Geneva.
The deaths are under investigation by the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin DNR extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy," police said in a news release, and urged boaters to closely monitor weather forecasts and seek safe harbor when threatening weather approaches.