Tragedy Strikes as Seven Mexican Migrants Killed in San Diego Boat Capsize

At least seven of the eight people killed when two boats capsized off the San Diego coast were Mexican migrants, according to Mexican officials. The tragedy occurred in shallow but turbulent surf.

A Spanish-speaking woman who called 911 said she was among eight people on a vessel that reached shore, and that 15 people were on another boat that overturned. Preliminary identification was based on records found with people’s bodies when they were recovered, the Mexican consulate in San Diego said in a news release.

The consulate did not provide ages, genders or other information about the people killed in what is believed to be one of the deadliest maritime migrant smuggling operations off U.S. waters. Authorities found two capsized boats in the area, and the search for the missing migrants has been called off.

The tragedy has sparked outrage among many in the Mexican community, who are calling for an investigation into the incident. The Mexican consulate in San Diego has said it is working with local authorities to determine the cause of the accident.