Search and rescue operation for a sunken pontoon boat near Alcatraz Island, in photos

A search and rescue operation was launched after a pontoon boat sank in the waters off San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon, near Alcatraz Island, with mostly family members aboard as part of a memorial service. Emergency crews found the three-deck vessel almost fully submerged, with the motor still running and fuel leaking, authorities said. The operation used divers, helicopters and water vessels to locate and assess the situation near the tourist landmark. Alcatraz, formerly a federal prison, is a major destination, and the reported location was close enough to prompt a coordinated response in the bay’s active waters. The brief update focused on the ongoing search activity rather than providing details on the number of survivors or any confirmed cause of the sinking.