3 dead, 9 missing as boat believed to be carrying migrants capsizes off California coast

A small boat believed to be carrying migrants capsized early on Monday in high surf off San Diego’s Pacific coast and left three people dead and four injured, while United States Coast Guard crews were searching for nine others, officials said.

US Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey said it was unclear where the boat was coming from before it flipped soon after sunrise about 56km (35 miles) north of the Mexico border. He described the vessel as a panga. Pangas are open fishing boats commonly used by smugglers.

“They were not tourists,” Sappey said. “They are believed to be migrants.”

Officials had no other details about those on board, including the three who died. The four injured people were taken to hospitals. The coastguard deployed a helicopter and boat to search for the missing.

Hikers and others at Torrey Pines State Beach reported seeing a boat capsize near the shore at about 6.30am, said Lieutenant Nick Backouris of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

“A doctor hiking nearby called in and said, ‘I see people doing CPR on the beach, I’m running that way’,” Backouris said.