Lead

One person has died and three missing people are presumed dead after a three-deck pontoon vessel sank off the coast of Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, US officials said Wednesday. A dog also died in the capsizing on Tuesday, and 16 others were saved by authorities, according to multiple reports.

The boat, described as a privately owned 'pontoon pleasure boat', capsized on Tuesday afternoon in the cold, fast-moving waters of the bay. The San Francisco Fire Department and the US Coast Guard led a search-and-rescue operation that continued through the night. The Coast Guard called off the search on Wednesday evening after hopes of finding the missing alive had all but vanished, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

Coverage Comparison

Reports of the incident vary in the details of the casualties and the circumstances. Deutsche Welle reported that one person died and three people were missing and presumed dead, with 16 others rescued. The Guardian reported that one person died and three were missing, with 16 rescued, and also noted that the boat was involved in a memorial service. The Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters, reported one death and two missing, with 13 people safely taken to shore and three taken to hospital, out of 19 people on board.

Regarding the cause, The Guardian initially reported that a fire broke out on the pontoon. However, later reporting from Deutsche Welle and the Jerusalem Post quoted San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen as saying that, contrary to early reports, there was no evidence of a fire. The Guardian's later report clarified that initial callers reported smoke, but police determined it was steam.

The vessel was described as a 50-foot (15-meter) 'pontoon pleasure boat' named Volare, documented out of Stockton, California, according to Lt Mariano Elias, a fire department spokesperson, as reported by The Guardian.

Key Claims

  • One person died and three missing people are presumed dead after the boat sank, according to Deutsche Welle. The Jerusalem Post reported two missing, citing officials.
  • A dog also died in the capsizing, as reported by Deutsche Welle and The Guardian.
  • Sixteen others were saved by authorities, according to Deutsche Welle and The Guardian. The Jerusalem Post reported 13 taken to shore and three to hospital.
  • The boat was a three-deck pontoon vessel, as reported by Deutsche Welle and The Guardian.
  • The vessel sank off the coast of Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, as reported by all sources.
  • Search and rescue teams looked for the missing throughout the night, and the Coast Guard called off the search at sunset on Wednesday, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • The boat was named Volare and departed from or near the St Francis Yacht Club, passing under the Golden Gate Bridge twice and visiting Angel Island, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder, as reported by The Guardian.
  • There was no fire on the boat, according to San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen, as reported by the Jerusalem Post and Deutsche Welle.

Perspectives

San Francisco Fire Department

Chief Dean Crispen stated that responders were dispatched after a report of a boat on fire, but that there was no evidence of a fire. He described the vessel as having capsized and taken on water, with the motor still running and leaking fuel.