A boat carrying 20 people sank near Alcatraz Island, commonly known as "The Rock," in San Francisco Bay, California, leaving one person dead, three missing, and 16 rescued. Search and rescue teams continue to search the waters in an effort to locate the missing passengers.

According to Reuters, the accident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time on July 15, about 550 meters from Alcatraz Island. Emergency responders were dispatched immediately after receiving a distress call. Local television footage showed the vessel taking on water rapidly before sinking beneath the surface, with only the roof briefly remaining visible.

The first police boat to arrive rescued a critically injured passenger. Despite immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by emergency personnel, the individual was later pronounced dead. Authorities confirmed that 16 passengers were rescued safely, while three others remain unaccounted for. A large-scale search operation involving 11 vessels continued for several hours.

Most of the passengers were reportedly family members attending a memorial gathering. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Officials have also clarified that earlier reports suggesting a fire aboard the vessel were incorrect, and there is currently no evidence indicating that the sinking was caused by a fire.

Although weather conditions were clear at the time of the accident, the waters surrounding Alcatraz Island are well known for their strong currents and cold temperatures. Once home to the infamous federal prison from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz earned the nickname "The Rock" because its surrounding waters made escape nearly impossible. Today, the island is a U.S. National Historic Landmark managed by the National Park Service and remains one of San Francisco's most popular tourist attractions.