SAN DIEGO – Authorities are beginning to identify the first of eight people known to have drowned in a human smuggling attempt last weekend.

A 22-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man and a 48-year-old man — all from Mexico — were among eight people who died after two boats capsized off Black’s Beach, the Union Tribune reported Tuesday.

San Diego lifeguards and other emergency crews discovered the victims in the water and along the sand at Black’s Beach after a Spanish-speaking woman called 911 late Saturday night. The woman said she and seven others were on a boat that made it to shore while eight to 15 others were on a second boat that capsized.

Lifeguards found two overturned pangas and no survivors, leading officials to believe some people fled before crews arrived.

Story Date: March 19, 2023