Six confirmed dead after 27-foot vessel capsizes during storm on Lake Tahoe, California
A 27-foot Chris-Craft powerboat carrying ten adults capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park on the western shore of Lake Tahoe, California, during a sudden thunderstorm on June 21, 2025. Six individuals were confirmed deceased, two were hospitalized, and two remain missing.
Capsized boat in Lake Tahoe on June 22, 2025 that claimed six lives. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Southwest Public Affairs
A 27-foot Chris-Craft powerboat carrying ten adults capsized in Lake Tahoe, California, during a sudden thunderstorm around 15:00 local time (22:00 UTC) on June 21, 2025. The incident occurred near D.L. Bliss State Park, on the lake’s western shore. Six individuals were confirmed deceased, two were hospitalized, and two remain missing.
The Coast Guard continued search efforts overnight and into the morning, eventually suspending operations at 10:55 local time on June 22 after no new sightings.
Authorities report that the boat encountered a sudden thunderstorm, with wind gusts reaching 55 km/h (35 mph) and wave heights of 1.8–2.4 m (6–8 feet), leading to its capsize and submergence. The lake’s surface temperature was approximately 14°C (58°F) at the time, posing a serious risk of hypothermia.
Search-and-rescue operations were immediately launched by multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe, California State Parks, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. Further support was provided by the Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, local lifeguards, and K-9 teams. The coordinated effort covered approximately 1 010 km2 (390 miles2) of lake surface.
More damage from the storm was reported across the lake, including vessels capsizing and dock structures being affected at locations such as Camp Richardson Marina and Grove Beach Bar & Grill. Local authorities reported that two more vessels sank, and at least seven to eight broke free from the dock because of the same storm.
References:
1 Coast Guard, partner agencies search for 2 missing people at Lake Tahoe – United States Coast Guard News – June 22, 2025
2 UPDATE: Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing people at Lake Tahoe – United States Coast Guard News – June 22, 2025
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