Authorities confirmed on Sunday that two migrant smuggling boats capsized off the San Diego coast, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people.

Heavy fog and treacherous surf made the shallow waters dangerous, and the incident is considered to be one of the deadliest maritime human smuggling operations in the United States, the Associated Press reported.

According to authorities, a woman who spoke Spanish called 911 on Saturday night to report that one of the panga-style boats had capsized in the waves at Black’s Beach. She stated that there were 15 people on the overturned vessel and eight on hers.

Rescue teams from the Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue recovered the bodies of eight adults from the water after two migrant smuggling boats capsized off the San Diego coast.

However, search operations were hampered by fog and no additional victims were found on Sunday despite the resumption of recovery efforts, as reported by the AP.

Authorities were unsure of the whereabouts of the woman who called 911, and it was possible that some survivors had managed to escape on land.

Written by staff