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Five Charged in Deadly San Diego Migrant Boat Capsizing

Three dead, including a 14-year-old Indian boy, as authorities search for missing 10-year-old girl and investigate smuggling network.

A law enforcement officer walks past the capsized boat at Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego on May 5, 2025. 
The family had left India some time before Diwali 2024, with tourist visas for the United Kingdom, leading relatives to believe they were in London
Two children drown to death as Indian family tries to enter US illegally

Overview

  • A 12-foot panga boat carrying migrants capsized off Torrey Pines State Beach on May 5 under hazardous conditions, killing three and injuring four.
  • Among the victims was a 14-year-old Indian boy, while his 10-year-old sister is presumed dead; their parents remain hospitalized, with the father in a coma.
  • Federal prosecutors have charged five Mexican nationals with human smuggling resulting in death, a crime carrying severe penalties.
  • Rescue and recovery efforts, involving multiple agencies, continue to search for the missing girl and investigate the origins of the smuggling operation.
  • The incident highlights the increasing risks migrants face using maritime routes to bypass fortified land borders, with panga boats often linked to smuggling operations.