At least three people have died, and two others were injured after a boat capsized off the coast of Staten Island, New York, on Sunday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A search-and-rescue operation is currently underway for one person who remains missing in the water.
Officials reported that one of the injured individuals is in critical condition, while the other is in stable condition. The boat capsized before noon in the Ambrose Channel, approximately five miles southeast of Breezy Point, a neighborhood located at the tip of Queens’ Rockaway Peninsula.
At 12:04 p.m., the Coast Guard received an alert about a vessel taking on water and immediately deployed three rescue boats and a helicopter to the scene. Emergency responders from multiple agencies, including the New York Police Department (NYPD), the New York Fire Department, and the New Jersey State Police, joined the operation to assist in the rescue efforts.
Five individuals were pulled from the water and transported to a nearby hospital. However, three of them were later pronounced dead, according to the NYPD. The identities of the victims have not been released as officials work to notify their families.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident. It remains unclear what led to the boat’s overturning, and officials have not yet determined whether weather conditions or mechanical failure played a role in the incident.
This tragedy comes amid increased safety concerns regarding watercraft accidents, as similar incidents have been reported globally. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to urge boaters to take necessary precautions, including wearing life jackets, checking weather conditions, and ensuring proper communication equipment is onboard.
As the search for the missing individual continues, authorities are asking anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. Emergency teams remain on high alert in hopes of locating the missing person and preventing further loss of life.
