Boat Sinks Near Alcatraz, Leaving One Dead and Three Missing

*This story has been updated on 7/15/26 at 12:43 a.m.

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA.) - At 3:37 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, a boat carrying 20 people capsized and sank near Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, leaving one person dead and three others missing as a massive search-and-rescue operation continues.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie stated that San Francisco Police Department Marine 3 arrived on scene first, confirming that a 49-foot cabin cruiser named Volare was damaged, and was reported to be based out of Stockton, California. The vessel's steam had been misinterpreted as smoke by emergency callers.

OpGov.News reached out to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which confirmed that one of the deceased has been identified as Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, of Sutter County. Officials did not release any additional information. A dog was confirmed to be deceased as well.

According to The Guardian, the vessel went down about 600 yards from Alcatraz Island, the iconic tourist destination located roughly one mile north of San Francisco's shoreline.

Photo Credit: U.S. National Park Service / Alcatraz Island

Rescuers pulled 17 people from the water after multiple first responders, including the San Francisco Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard, deployed boats, divers, and helicopters for the rescue mission.

Several survivors suffered injuries after being thrown into the water, though authorities reported there were no injuries related to burns, further supporting officials’ claims that a fire was not behind the tragic sinking, despite emergency calls initially being based on a vessel fire.

The waters surrounding Alcatraz are known for strong currents and rapidly changing conditions, making the area one of the more challenging parts of the bay for boaters and rescue crews alike.

The cause of the sinking remains under investigation as rescue teams continue searching for the two missing passengers, and authorities have not said whether the vessel was privately owned or operating as part of a commercial excursion.

Rough seas, strong currents, and shifting winds in the San Francisco Bay continue to create challenging conditions for first responders as operations are still underway. 

This is an ongoing story. To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at yashi.s@lead4earth.org.