LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (BN24) — A powerful thunderstorm over Lake Tahoe, California, turned deadly over the weekend when a boat carrying ten people capsized in rough waters, leaving six people confirmed dead and two others still missing, according to officials.
The tragedy occurred Saturday afternoon near D.L. Bliss State Park, located along the lake’s southwestern edge. The U.S. Coast Guard and El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office responded swiftly to emergency calls reporting multiple people in the water after a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat overturned amid treacherous weather conditions.
Authorities said winds reached 30 knots (35 mph) and waves rose up to eight feet (2.5 meters) when the gold-colored vessel capsized, throwing all ten occupants into the frigid water.
Two people were rescued from the lake and transported to a nearby hospital, while the bodies of six others were recovered during a coordinated response effort that stretched into the evening. Dive teams and marine units resumed their search Sunday morning in hopes of locating the two remaining missing individuals.
Officials cited extreme weather as a likely factor in the capsizing. The violent thunderstorm produced gusty winds and heavy swells that battered boats across Lake Tahoe. Video obtained by KCRA-TV showed vessels at a nearby marina violently slamming into each other, illustrating the storm’s sudden intensity.
As of Sunday, the full extent of damage across the lake remained unclear, though authorities warned that water conditions remain dangerous, and further boating is discouraged until weather conditions stabilize.
The Coast Guard said the vessel flipped suddenly during peak storm activity, leaving little time for those aboard to respond. Emergency responders battled the elements to rescue survivors, while divers scoured the lake floor late into Saturday night.
“This was a sudden and catastrophic event,” an El Dorado County Sheriff’s spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with the families of those lost, and our teams are working tirelessly to locate the missing.”
Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada border, is a major summer tourist destination, known for its crystal-clear waters and scenic alpine backdrop. Boating is a popular pastime on the lake, which typically draws thousands of visitors in the summer months.
This weekend’s deadly incident has cast a pall over the region, prompting renewed focus on boater safety and weather preparedness.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims as they work to notify next of kin. Investigators are reviewing weather data and interviewing witnesses to determine the sequence of events that led to the disaster.
As of late Sunday, the search for the two missing individuals continues, with officials urging the public to avoid the area to allow emergency crews space to work.
