16 hours Ago
Storms Harden Disaster And the storm you just knew would come sooner or later, does.
The 27-foot Chris-Craft boat capsized near DL Bliss State Park as raking winds created 8-foot waves, authorities said. Wind gusts were up to 35 mph, and the boat was caught in a heavy swell. There were 10 people on board at the time, according to reports.
Two survivors were rescued from the icy waters by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and taken to a local hospital, said the sheriff's office. As of now, they are being treated for hypothermia and other injuries.
The emergency call came at about 3:00 p.m. local time, as the storm's effects intensified and the temperature fell to near freezing. The sudden change in weather brought rain and snow to the nearby Sierra mountains, making it extremely dangerous to be on the water.
Search Continues in Dangerous Conditions
As of Sunday, the sheriff's Dive Team and Search and Rescue crews were still searching the area near Rooster Rock, which is considered hazardous because of an underwater drop-off of more than 300 feet. The victims have not been identified by officials.
The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies continue to participate in the search and recovery effort, and some video footage posted to social media shows boats being thrown into docks violently, many of which have been damaged and are now leaking contaminants into the water.
Lake Tahoe, North America's largest alpine lake, reaches 1,000-foot depths, also making it difficult to search and recover in the cold and choppy water.
