06-05-2025
Coast Guard suspends search for missing people in deadly panga incident
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for the seven people who went missing after a panga with more than a dozen people on board overturned off the coast of Del Mar earlier this week.
The agency, in tandem with local authorities, scoured more than 520 square miles around Torrey Pines State Beach for hours to find the unaccounted-for passengers of the boat following the deadly incident.
According to Coast Guard officials, the decision to call off the search was made late Monday night. It is unclear whether the missing people will be presumed dead by local authorities.
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The panga was first discovered beached on the shore of Torrey Pines State Beach around 6 a.m. Monday. Surviving passengers of the boat said 18 people were on board when it flipped, prompting a 'major medical response' from first responders.
Encinitas city officials said eighteen life jackets were also recovered at the beach, supporting the estimated total number of people on board.
At least three people were declared dead Monday, while four others were found at the scene in need of medical attention for injuries ranging from 'minor to critical.' The condition of the injured passengers is unknown at this time.
First responders took to air, land and sea to find the missing people, deploying the Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, Station San Diego 45-foot response boat-medium, Air Station Sacramento C-27 Spartan aircraft and the Cutter Sea Otter, among other resources.
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations officials have vowed to 'diligently' investigate the incident, which authorities believe was a smuggling attempt, to identify and hold to account whoever is responsible.
'This tragic maritime incident off the coast of San Diego is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by maritime smuggling,' Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement. 'This loss of life underscores why such criminal activity will never be tolerated.'
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