4 dead after wooden boat believed to be ferrying migrants into the US capsizes off San Diego

At least four people died and four others were hospitalized after a wooden skiff believed to be carrying migrants capsized in stormy seas near San Diego, the U.S. Coast Guard reported Saturday. The incident marks the latest in a series of deadly maritime smuggling attempts along the California coast.

U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered the vessel late Friday night in the surf off Imperial Beach. Six individuals were found on the beach shortly before midnight. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while another was rescued after being found trapped under the boat.

Approximately two hours later, authorities responded to reports of someone in the water near Imperial Beach Pier. Coast Guard crews recovered three more bodies from the ocean.

Search operations continued throughout Saturday as officials worked to determine if additional passengers remained missing. Several survivors identified themselves as Mexican nationals, while others remained unidentified. One person was transferred to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security.

“Our crews and partner agencies responded immediately, but this case demonstrates the severe risks posed to aliens attempting to enter the United States by sea in unstable vessels,” said Coast Guard Capt. Robert Tucker, commander of Sector San Diego.

The incident occurred as a powerful storm system battered Southern California over the weekend, triggering warnings of flash flooding and mudslides that likely contributed to the dangerous sea conditions. The vessel was identified as a panga – a type of open fishing boat commonly used by smugglers due to its speed and maneuverability.

Maritime smuggling operations have increased significantly along the U.S. West Coast in recent years as migrants seek alternatives to heavily fortified land borders. Smugglers typically launch pangas from Mexico under cover of darkness, sometimes navigating hundreds of miles north along the California coastline.

These perilous journeys have resulted in multiple deadly incidents in Southern California waters. In May of this year, at least three people perished when another panga capsized approximately 35 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

One of the deadliest maritime smuggling incidents occurred in 2023 when eight people lost their lives after two migrant vessels approached a San Diego beach in heavy fog, with one boat overturning in the surf.

The dangers of these sea crossings were further highlighted in 2022 when a federal judge sentenced a San Diego man to 18 years in prison for piloting a small vessel carrying 32 migrants that broke apart in powerful surf. That incident resulted in three deaths and over two dozen injuries.

The recent tragedy near San Diego reflects a global crisis in migrant deaths. According to the United Nations agency for migration, nearly 9,000 people died worldwide last year while attempting to cross borders – a record high for the fifth consecutive year.

The U.N. Missing Migrant Project reports that more than 24,506 migrants have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean alone between 2014 and 2024, with many lost at sea. Experts believe the actual death toll may be substantially higher, as numerous fatalities go undocumented.

As border enforcement intensifies along land routes, maritime smuggling operations continue to offer desperate migrants a dangerous alternative, often with tragic consequences.