Three people are confirmed dead, and nine others are unaccounted for after a suspected smuggling boat capsized off Del Mar early Monday morning.
Local fire crews, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security, responded to an area just north of Torrey Pines State Beach around 6:30 a.m., where the panga had washed ashore, officials told KTLA 5 News.
“It was estimated to be approximately 18 people on the beach, so we upgraded this to a major medical response due to the number of potential victims,” said Jorge Sanchez, a deputy chief with the Encinitas Fire Department.
Three people were declared dead at the scene. Four survived and needed medical care, Coast Guard spokesperson Hunter Schnabel said.
Crews frantically searched by boat, jet ski, and helicopter for additional victims or survivors. Children are believed to be among the missing, Schnabel said.
Panga landings are relatively frequent in Southern California as immigrants risk their safety aboard these overcrowded boats to reach the United States from Mexico.
Recently, the city of San Clemente has considered installing surveillance cameras along its coastline to help alert authorities when pangas are spotted.
This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA 5 News for updates.