San Diego, CA — A small boat suspected of carrying migrants capsized early Monday off the coast near Torrey Pines State Beach, leaving at least three people dead and four injured, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials.
The panga-style vessel — a narrow, open fishing boat commonly used in human smuggling operations — was carrying at least 16 people when it overturned roughly 35 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Among those aboard were at least two children, local affiliate KFMB reported. Four survivors were hospitalized with injuries.
By Monday afternoon, Coast Guard crews were searching for at least seven missing individuals, revising an earlier estimate of nine.
“This is being treated as a suspected human smuggling incident,” a Coast Guard official told CBS News. Petty Officer Chris Sappey added that the boat’s point of origin remains unknown, though vessels of this type are frequently used by smugglers attempting to enter the U.S. by sea.
“They were not tourists,” Sappey stated. “They are believed to be migrants.”
The tragedy highlights the growing dangers of maritime smuggling routes off Southern California, where rough waters and unseaworthy vessels often lead to deadly outcomes.
U.S.
Boat Capsizes Near San Diego Beach, Leaving 3 Dead and 7 Missing
By Emily Mae Czachor | Updated May 5, 2025 / 7:30 PM EDT / CBS News
A small boat believed to be carrying migrants capsized early Monday off the coast of San Diego, resulting in at least three fatalities and four hospitalizations, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. As of Monday afternoon, rescue crews were searching for at least seven people still unaccounted for, revising an earlier estimate of nine missing.
The vessel, identified as a panga-style boat — a small, open fishing boat powered by an outboard motor — overturned near Torrey Pines State Beach with an estimated 16 people on board. Local CBS affiliate KFMB reported that at least two children were among the passengers, and four survivors were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
A Coast Guard official confirmed to CBS News that the incident is being investigated as a suspected human smuggling operation.
Petty Officer Chris Sappey of the U.S. Coast Guard told The Associated Press that the vessel’s origin remains unknown. However, he noted that panga boats are frequently used by smugglers operating along the Southern California coast.
“They were not tourists,” Sappey said. “They are believed to be migrants.”
Authorities have not released the identities of the deceased and said it remains unclear whether any individuals may have reached shore and left the area before emergency crews arrived.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office confirmed its deputies are assisting in the response. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, according to local law enforcement.
Witnesses reported seeing the boat capsize near the shoreline around 6:30 a.m. local time, according to Lt. Nick Backouris of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
“A doctor hiking nearby called in, saying, ‘I see people doing CPR on the beach, I’m heading that way,'” Backouris told The Associated Press.
The boat, more than 20 feet in length, appeared to be made of wood with scuffed blue paint and wooden planks used for seats. Inside, responders found a pair of running shoes, over a dozen life vests, an empty waterproof cellphone bag, and several water bottles, The AP reported.
Along with sheriff’s deputies and Coast Guard personnel, officials from the Encinitas Fire Department and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol also responded to the scene, as reported by KFMB.
Jorge Sanchez, deputy fire chief, stated that the immigration status of those on board was “not known at the moment.” He confirmed that multiple people were found on the beach after the boat overturned, and the incident was officially labeled a “mass casualty event.”
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