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3w ago

SFPD Locates Sunken Volare Near Alcatraz as Two Passengers Remain Missing

Underwater robots are inspecting the wreck to judge whether a safe recovery or diver search is feasible because investigators suspect the missing may be trapped inside.

Image
The U.S. Coast Guard, left, searches the San Francisco Bay for missing people on Wednesday, July 15. Fishermen arrived first to the scene of the sinking Volare on Tuesday, July 14.
People cover themselves with American Red Cross blankets at Fort Mason, where the Red Cross set up an assistance center on Tuesday, July 14. Fishermen who helped pull passengers from the water described the frantic rescue efforts.
James Kim, 37, said he witnessed and photographed the cabin cruiser sinking and rescue efforts on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Overview

  • The 49-foot cabin cruiser Volare capsized and sank about 600 yards west of Alcatraz on Tuesday, throwing roughly 20 people into the cold water during a memorial trip to scatter ashes.
  • Two people have been confirmed dead: 79-year-old Clifford Joseph Boisa and 58-year-old Tondra Madruga, and two passengers are still missing and presumed trapped inside the vessel.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard suspended wide-area surface and air searches after sweeping a very large area, and local police and partner agencies have led the follow-up search and recovery effort.
  • San Francisco police used boat-mounted sonar to locate the Volare on the bay floor and are deploying a remotely operated vehicle to assess the wreck and the safety of any recovery operation.
  • Investigators say a wave likely struck the boat causing rapid water ingress and capsize, and authorities must now weigh the wreck’s depth of about 120 to 130 feet, enclosed spaces, and diver safety before any recovery or further searches proceed.