One Dead, Two Missing After Alcatraz Boat Capsized

San Francisco – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – An Alcatraz boat capsized on Tuesday afternoon, killing one person and leaving two others missing in the cold waters of San Francisco Bay. The vessel, a three-level pontoon boat carrying 19 people, went down close to the famous island around 3:30 pm local time.

Rescue teams first believed the boat was on fire. Calls came in about smoke near the vessel. But when crews arrived, they found something different. There was no fire at all. Instead, the boat was already flipping over and taking on water fast.

San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen spoke to reporters near the scene. He confirmed that early fire reports were wrong. The real danger, he said, was the boat itself sinking beneath the waves.

Officials later learned the Alcatraz boat sank after a fuel leak was spotted near the engine area. The motor kept running even as the vessel went under, and fuel could be seen spreading across the surface of the bay. This made the rescue effort even trickier for crews working in the water.

A police marine unit reached the boat first. They found one passenger badly hurt. Rescuers gave the person CPR right on the spot and rushed them to shore. Sadly, the passenger did not survive.

Out of the 19 people on board, 13 made it safely to land on their own. Three others were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A dog that was also on the boat did not survive the accident.

Two passengers remain unaccounted for. Search teams have not given up hope of finding them. Chief Crispen said 11 boats are working the water at once. Divers and helicopters have also joined the effort.

“We are going to continue for hours to make sure that we find these two missing people, if possible,” Crispen told reporters.

The weather that day looked calm and sunny. But strong currents told a different story underwater. Whitecaps formed across the bay, making the search harder for every team involved.

Alcatraz has always been known for its rough waters. The island once held a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. People believed no one could swim away from it because of the cold temperatures and powerful tides. Today, the same currents that once stopped prisoners from escaping are now slowing down rescue crews.

The US Coast Guard joined local police and fire departments soon after the first call came in. Officials say they are treating this as an active, ongoing search. Investigators still do not know exactly what caused the boat to flip.

Alcatraz remains one of the most visited spots in San Francisco. Thousands of tourists take boat tours near the island every week. This accident is now raising fresh questions about safety on the water, especially for boats carrying large groups of passengers.

As the search continues into the evening, families of the missing wait anxiously for updates. Authorities have promised to keep searching until every possible option has been explored.