Three dead, nine missing after boat capsizes off California coast

At least three people have died, four were injured, and nine others remain missing after a small boat overturned early Monday morning off the coast near Torrey Pines State Beach, authorities have confirmed.

Emergency services, including the U.S. Coast Guard and local lifeguards, responded around 6:30 a.m. after reports came in of a capsized panga-style vessel—a type of open boat frequently associated with migrant smuggling. Witnesses, including hikers in the area, said they saw the boat flip near the shoreline.

Lt. Nick Backouris of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department said a doctor hiking nearby was among the first to report the incident and attempted to assist victims on the beach. “I see people doing CPR on the beach, I’m running that way,” the doctor reportedly told dispatchers.

Coast Guard officials said the 12-foot boat’s origin remains unknown. A search-and-rescue operation involving helicopters and a 45-foot patrol vessel is currently underway about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego. The four survivors were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

This incident comes amid growing concerns about maritime smuggling. In 2023, eight people died in a similar tragedy when two migrant boats capsized off the San Diego coast in heavy fog—one of the deadliest maritime smuggling events in US history.