At Least Four Dead, Five Injured After Panga Boat Capsizes Off Imperial Beach

Fatal Capsizing off Imperial Beach Leaves Four Dead, Five Injured

At least four people have died and five others were injured after a panga-style boat overturned off Imperial Beach near San Diego in the early hours of Saturday, Nov. 15, officials said.

Deputies were called to the area around South Seacoast Drive and Encanto Avenue just after midnight to assist with what authorities described as a "lifesaving emergency" involving an overturned vessel, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office told local outlets.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Fire Chief John French said U.S. Border Patrol agents reportedly observed the vessel cross the international border before it capsized in the surf. The U.S. Coast Guard led search-and-rescue efforts shortly after midnight, joined by the Chula Vista Fire Department and Border Patrol units.

"This morning at approximately 12 a.m., San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents responded to a maritime smuggling event south of the Imperial Beach Pier. During the smuggling event, the vessel was seen capsizing in the surf," Border Patrol Agent Gerardo U. Gutierrez said. "Multiple agencies responded to assist in search and rescue efforts. A total of nine people were recovered from the scene."

Officials said one body was recovered from the water off South Seacoast Drive and three others were found near the Imperial Beach Pier. Five additional people were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

"We have Coast Guard still out there, you know, looking out there in the water to see if there are any other bodies out there," Chief French told local media as the search continued.

A witness who was fishing nearby said he noticed a person floating in the surf and saw a helicopter circling the area as responders arrived. Local agencies are asking anyone with information to come forward to assist the investigation.

Context

Officials characterized the incident as related to suspected maritime smuggling. Earlier this year, a similar tragedy occurred when a panga carrying 16 people overturned near Torrey Pines State Beach, killing at least three people and sending others to hospitals. That earlier case was also described by the Coast Guard as a suspected migrant-smuggling event.

Multiple agencies remain involved in search, rescue and investigative efforts as they work to determine what led to the vessel overturning and whether more victims may be unaccounted for.