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Alcatraz boat rescue: 17 people pulled from water
Seventeen people were rescued and one person remains unaccounted for after a boat capsized near Alcatraz on Tuesday.
SAN FRANCISCO - A dramatic search and rescue effort, centered around a pontoon boat, is underway in the San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island. A total of 19 people were aboard the vessel, fire officials say. One of them died.
According to SF Fire Chief Dean Crispin, two people remain missing. 13 people have been rescued and are onshore while three others were taken to a local hospital.
San Francisco boat rescue near Alcatraz Island
What we know:
The San Francisco Fire Department initially reported the incident around 4 p.m. as a boat fire with five to seven victims.
Fire Chief Crispin at a news conference said at 3:35 p.m. there were reports of a vessel on fire about 600 yards from Alcatraz. The boat was a three-deck pontoon boat. By the time rescuers arrived, two of the decks were already underwater.
The number of victims greatly increased as more information was provided.
The U.S. Coast Guard said they were in the initial stages of a search and rescue for the 20-foot boat. Fire officials at first described the vessel as a pleasure boat.
SkyFOX quickly arrived on the scene as the boat appeared to be taking on water. By 4:38 p.m. the boat was completely submerged underwater.
A combination of first responders includes the Oakland Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard on a private boat.
The San Francisco Fire Department said at least one person received CPR during the rescue effort. Chief Crispin confirmed that this was the person who was confirmed dead.
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Boat sinks in San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island
A water rescue was underway Tuesday afternoon after a boat fire in the San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island.
San Francisco weather conditions
Dig deeper:
The Bay Area is under a coastal flood advisory, and will continue to be so through at least Wednesday.
KTVU Meteorologist Roberta Gonzales notes that while the weather on the Bay does not appear to be extreme today, south-west winds are at about 5 to10 knots and increasing, creating choppy waters.
The water temperature near Alcatraz is only about 61 degrees, which can quickly become a life-threatening situation for anyone thrown into the water, Gonzales said.
This is developing, check back for updates
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Alcatraz boat rescue: 17 people pulled from water
Seventeen people were rescued and one person remains unaccounted for after a boat capsized near Alcatraz on Tuesday.
Boat rescue near Alcatraz in San Francisco. July 14, 2026.