Two migrant boats capsize in San Diego, leaving eight people dead.

12 March (Reuters) Emergency personnel reported on Sunday that two fishing boats that were involved in an apparent migrant smuggling operation capsized off the coast of San Diego, California, killing at least eight individuals.

After receiving a 911 call from a Spanish-speaking caller reporting fishing boats in difficulty off the coast of San Diego's Black's Beach, emergency personnel in San Diego started a search and recovery operation late Saturday night.

According to San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division Chief James Gartland, when crews arrived, they discovered eight dead removed from the sea and the beach after two fishing boats capsized in a 400-foot (366 m) area.

The victims were all adults, but officials did not know what country they were from.

Adverse weather certainly increased the risk of the maritime smuggling operation and made it harder to conduct rescue operations overnight, according to officials. Late Sunday morning, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard division and the U.S. Coast Guard were still working on the recovery effort.

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