At least eight people died after two boats, apparently belonging to a band of smugglers, they overturned in Pacific waters off the US city of San Diego.
The fatal accident took place on Saturday night and this Sunday morning the rescue forces continued their tasks on the high seas looking for seven other peoplewho were also in the boats and remain missing.
San Diego Firefighters said rescuers managed to pull eight bodies from the waters off Blacks Beach on Saturday, but thick fog hampered the search overnight.
On Sunday, firefighters and Coast Guard vessels were scouring the waters in the area for other victims.
According to the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department, a person who washed ashore in a boat with 15 people aboard informed them that another boat had capsized and the victims were in the water.
The first rescuers who arrived on the spot found two overturned boats and seven lifeless bodies, while the eighth body was found later.
Daniel Eddy, deputy director of operations for the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department, said there was a large debris field at Black’s Beach, which is jointly owned by San Diego and the state. The location is also known as Torrey Pines City Beach or Torrey Pines State Beach.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Eddie Berrios confirmed eight people had died and rescuers were looking for at least seven more.
The officer said he did not know what kind of boats they were, but commented that panga-type boats usually arrive at the scene, a name given to small flat-bottomed boats widely used for fishing in Central American countries.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.