At least five migrants were able to make it ashore from a boat that split in half off Sunset Cliffs on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
San Diego lifeguards were called to the scene of a boat breaking apart against the cliffs in the high surf at 6 a.m. at Adair Street and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, according to OnScene.TV.
No one was found in the water and a surveillance video showed people scrambling up the cliff and escaping, the video news service said.
The motorized boat could be seen overturned and smashing against the cliff walls.
In a second incident, in La Jolla about 90 minutes later, a large panga landed on the rocks at Windansea, OnScene reported, with up to 30 people seen leaving the boat. The group, including women and children, ran east to waiting vehicles on La Jolla Boulevard. The cars left the scene.
In addition, the boat was loaded with gas cans, and as the surf slammed it into the rocks, the cans went into the ocean and onto the beach. Residents ended up going into the chilly surf to help recover the cans and prevent fuel leaks.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Updated 2:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 2024
