Three people have died, four others were rushed to the hospital, and nine remain missing after a small boat flipped over early Monday morning near Torrey Pines State Beach, north of downtown San Diego.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department reported that emergency teams, including the U.S. Coast Guard, began responding at about 6:30 a.m. after receiving calls about an overturned vessel in the water. The boat, described as a panga-style craft, had capsized under unclear circumstances.
Panga boats, which are open and motor-powered, are often used by fishermen but have also been linked to smuggling operations in the region. Officials have not yet confirmed the purpose of the vessel in this incident.
As of Monday afternoon, the Coast Guard continued a large-scale search and rescue effort for the nine people still unaccounted for. Helicopters, boats, and shore patrol teams were combing the ocean and coastline, hoping to locate survivors. The names and nationalities of those on board have not yet been released.
Authorities have not confirmed how many people in total were aboard the vessel when it capsized or what led to the incident. The four survivors who were rescued are receiving medical treatment and may provide more details as they recover.
Local law enforcement and federal agencies are working together to investigate the cause of the capsizing. In recent years, similar tragedies involving overcrowded or unsafe vessels have occurred along the Southern California coast, often involving attempts to enter the U.S. illegally.
Officials said this is an ongoing situation and promised updates as more information becomes available. For now, the focus remains on the urgent search for the missing.