One person dead and 16 rescued after boat fire off Alcatraz Island

One person is dead and two others are missing after a pontoon boat believed to be carrying 19 people sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday. Search efforts are ongoing.

Another 16 people have been rescued and taken ashore at Fort Mason, the fire department said. Authorities told the San Francisco Chronicle it appears an explosion took place onboard.

Three survivors have been brought to California Pacific Medical Center Van Ness to treat unspecified injuries. Those rescued from the wreck showed signs of impact injuries, likely from hitting the water, according to San Francisco fire chief Dean Crispen.

San Francisco firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard began responding to the incident around 3:30 p.m.

The Coast Guard initially described the incident as a “vessel fire,” though the fire department later said it did not encounter evidence of a fire on the vessel or among survivors.

“Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and a triage area has been established ashore,” the Coast Guard wrote in a statement on X.

A dog onboard the vessel died, the fire department said.

Local news footage showed the maroon and white boat sinking beneath the waves.

The Independent has contacted the San Francisco Fire Department, Coast Guard and mayor’s office for comment.

There are 11 vessels searching the bay for survivors.

Officials said whitecaps could complicate the search effort, but the conditions will not deter rescuers.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.