1 dead, 11 hospitalized in suspected human smuggling incident in La Jolla

1 dead, 11 injured in suspected smuggling operation in Southern California

Authorities say one person has died and up to 11 people were taken to the hospital during a rescue operation involving a suspected smuggling boat in La Jolla early Thursday.

LA JOLLA, Calif. - One person was killed and 11 others were hospitalized during a rescue operation involving a suspected human smuggling boat in Southern California on Thursday, reports say.

Just after 5:30 a.m., first responders were called to an incident off the coast of La Jolla in the 300 block of Marine Street, FOX 5 San Diego reported. Authorities said that eight people reportedly jumped from a small boat, known as a panga, and started swimming toward shore.

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Officials said that 15-18 people were on board the boat, which kept going north and ended up at Children's Pool Beach in La Jolla.

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FOX 5 reported that one person died and 11 people were taken to the hospital following the water rescue.

Earlier this week, twenty-three people were rescued from a suspected smuggling boat off the San Diego coast not far from where another vessel broke up a few weeks ago, killing three people, authorities said.