A deadly boat fire and sinking off Alcatraz Island has left one person dead and at least three others still missing, as a dramatic rescue operation in San Francisco Bay continued into the evening.
The vessel, carrying 20 people, was roughly 600 yards off Alcatraz between the infamous island and the Golden Gate Bridge when it started sinking beneath the frigid waters of the bay Tuesday afternoon.
Those aboard appeared to have been family members who were participating in some kind of memorial according to NBC Bay Area.
A massive rescue is underway after at least one person died after a boat incident in San Francisco Bay. ABC
The US Coast Guard initially classified it as a “vessel fire” and said 19 people were aboard when the emergency unfolded. But the San Francisco Fire Department said during a 5 p.m. news conference that crews found no evidence a fire had occurred.
Fire officials said the boat was a three-level pontoon vessel that was already mostly underwater when rescuers arrived, with only the top deck still visible above the surface.
When crews arrived some people were in the water, some were on the boat. Officials said the boat launched somewhere near the St. Francis Yacht club.
Most of the injuries were caused by the violent plunge into the bay, according to the fire department.
Officials said there were no reported burn injuries, and none of the people pulled from the water were wearing life jackets.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen confirmed that at least one person had died and 16 people were rescued from the icy cold water in the bay.
“We have a report of 19 total members of the community on this vessel,” the chief said.
A body is covered on a dock near the site of the boat accident on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Noah Berger
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said there are divers in the water and 11 vessels are looking for them.
“We are going to continue for hours to make sure that we find these two missing people,” he said.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie thanked crews for all their efforts and expressed his condolences to the family of the one deceased person.
“This is an all hands on deck search,” Lurie said. “And hopefully rescue. And you all have done some extraordinary work in the last 90 minutes.”
Aerial view of the boat rescue operation in the water near Alcatraz in San Francisco. KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
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Rescued passengers were treated by emergency services at Gashouse Cove. Getty Images
During the rescue, the boat ended up becoming totally submerged.
One dog that was on the boat also died.
Aerial view of the boat rescue operation in the water near Alcatraz in San Francisco. KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
Authorities said the search for the two missing people remains underway.
This is a developing story.
Earlier this week, a capsized sailboat in San Francisco Bay triggered a rescue off the San Mateo County coast as three sailors ended up in the water.
During the rescue, the boat ended up becoming totally submerged. KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
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