Three people died and at least seven others are missing after a small boat overturned in the Pacific Ocean off the coast near San Diego, California, officials said.
At least 16 people, including two children, were aboard the Panga style fishing boat, which overturned near the Torrey Pines state beach, the American coast guard said in a press release on X. Initially, nine people were missing, but two later, two were found and detained.
A Coast Guard official told CBS News, the American BBC partner, that he treats this as an alleged human smuggling incident.
Four people were transported to hospital and it is not known if other victims were in the water, officials said.
It was not clear where the boat came from before it turned to around 35 miles (56 km) north of the Mexican border, the Mesquin of the Coast Guard Chris Sappey told the Associated Press.
He said similar ships are commonly used by smugglers. “They were not tourists,” said Sappey. “They are considered migrants.”
A Panga boat is a small light ship open generally powered by an outboard engine.
A coast guard cutter and a helicopter were looking for the missing, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard at the BBC told the BBC.
Nick Backouris, a lieutenant of the San Diego sheriff office, said that people from his office helped the victims on the beach.
“A doctor who hikes nearby called and said:” I see people doing RCR on the beach, I run this way “,” said Backouris at the AP. “The deputies helped the rescue measures.”
Jorge Sanchez, of the incendic fire service, said that the immigration status of captured persons was not known.
