4 dead after panga boat capsizes in Southern California

Jayne Yutig, The San Diego Union-Tribune on Nov 15, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

SAN DIEGO — A search was underway early Saturday morning after a suspected panga boat capsized off Imperial Beach, killing four people, officials said.

One person was found dead in the water off South Seacoast Drive and three others were found near the Imperial Beach Pier, Imperial Beach Battalion Chief John French told Sideo.TV.

Four people were rescued and taken to the hospital, one person was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The U.S. Coast Guard, along with multiple other agencies, began searching for people in the water around midnight Saturday after San Diego Border Patrol reported a boat capsized near South Seacoast Drive and Encanto Avenue, French said.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, Chula Vista Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Navy, and San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office also responded to the scene.

“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 Capt. Robert Tucker, Sector San Diego commander.

The ages of the victims have not yet been released.