Tragedy struck this morning at Torrey Pines State Beach when a panga boat capsized, leading to multiple fatalities. In a scene described by local authorities as a "mass casualty incident," at least three adults have died, and several others have been hospitalized. The CBS 8 report confirmed the boat was found overturned near 12600 N. Torrey Pines Road, involving at least 18 people, including two minors, with 11 individuals unaccounted for at the time of discovery.
Multiple agencies responded to the emergency, including the San Diego Police Department, Del Mar Lifeguards, and the United States Coast Guard. While reporting the incident, Jorge Sanchez, deputy fire chief with the Encinitas Fire Department, said, "There were estimated to be about 18 people on the beach, so we upgraded this to a major medical response due the number of potential victims that we had on the beach with this boat," as FOX 5 San Diego recounted. Rescue operations included water searches by lifeguards and an aerial survey from a helicopter, scouring the area for those missing.
The capsized 12-foot vessel remained near the shoreline, as confirmed by authorities to CBS 8. With operations continuing past 9 AM, the Sheriff's Department stated that they had not detained anyone in connection with the incident. The emergency response saw numerous local physicians heading to work, joining the efforts, and providing CPR to the victims. At UCSD Medical Center, officers with Customs and Border Patrol were present as one of the patients was admitted, possibly hinting at concerns around undocumented immigration, although this has not been confirmed.
