Two people are dead and nearly two dozen others were rescued after a boat capsized off the coast of San Diego Sunday.
Lifeguards, members of San Diego Fire-Rescue and Customs and Border Protection air support responded to the scene near the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma around 11:30 a.m. local time.
My daughter’ s Godfather and two of her friends are surrounded by debris near the Capsized boat at Ballast Pt. Point Loma,Ca. pic.twitter.com/ORv5eJ1T9i
— Jason Nocito (@HRYmonkey) May 2, 2021
“Sadly, two did not survive,” the San Diego fire department wrote on Twitter. “23 were taken to local hospitals. Federal agencies are still searching the water in vessels and aircraft.”
@SDLifeguards and SDFD firefighters at Cabrillo Monument on the overturned vessel incident. 24 persons were on board. Many patients transported to hospitals. @USCG Fed Fire & many other agencies assisting. pic.twitter.com/jGbfnaRbJh
— SDFD (@SDFD) May 2, 2021
It was not immediately clear what type of vessel was involved. Although, local media reported the incident may be part of a human smuggling operation.
Multiple helicopters and rescue water crafts here on scene. There are several first responder vehicles down by the water. I saw multiple ambulances driving away from the scene as I was coming in @fox5sandiego pic.twitter.com/6RTIbBYZu9
— Kelsey Christensen (@KelseyReports) May 2, 2021
The tidepools are temporarily closed today. We will post an update later today when the area reopens.
— Cabrillo National Monument (@CABRILLONPS) May 2, 2021
My office is monitoring the incident off the coast of Point Loma this morning and while we wait for an official update, my thoughts are with those impacted and the many emergency personnel responding to the scene. https://t.co/FTBqbzimJR
— Council President Jennifer Campbell (@CMJenCampbell) May 2, 2021