Six people have died and two others were missing after a boat capsized Saturday on California’s Lake Tahoe, local authorities have said.
A 27ft-long boat overturned in the afternoon after apparently being hit by a large swell near DL Bliss State Park, according to the Coast Guard. Lake Tahoe and its surrounding wilderness region is a hugely popular spot with tourists.
Emergency services responded to the incident and reported six people dead, two more missing, and took two survivors to a local hospital, the El Dorado county sheriff’s office (EDSO) said in a statement.
“EDSO search and rescue, along with the EDSO dive team, will return to the area in the morning to continue search operations,” the group said.
It added: “The identities of the deceased will not be released until next-of-kin notifications have been made.”
Local witnesses told South Tahoe News that unusually high winds had struck the lake in the afternoon, raising waves and creating dangerous conditions. “It was a very, very tragic day on Lake Tahoe,” local boat captain Joby Cefalu told the outlet.