A tragic boating accident on Lake Tahoe has left six people confirmed dead and two others missing after a vessel capsized during a severe thunderstorm Saturday afternoon, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred near D.L. Bliss State Park on the lake’s southwest shore as a powerful storm swept through the region, bringing 30-knot winds and waves as high as eight feet (2.5 meters). The 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel was overwhelmed by the rough water, tossing all 10 occupants into the lake.
Rescue teams from the U.S. Coast Guard and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office responded swiftly. Two people were rescued and transported to a local hospital for treatment, while search and recovery efforts were launched for the remaining passengers.
Divers and emergency crews combed the choppy waters Saturday evening and resumed operations Sunday morning. The Coast Guard later suspended active search efforts, with two people still unaccounted for as of Monday morning.
Dramatic footage aired by KCRA-TV showed chaos at a nearby marina, where docked boats collided violently under the storm’s forceful winds. The full extent of the damage from the storm has yet to be assessed.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing. The tragedy has cast a somber tone over the normally tranquil lake community, with officials urging the public to heed weather warnings and use caution on the water, especially during volatile summer storm conditions.