SAN DIEGO – Four people died and more than two dozen others were hospitalized Sunday after a wooden boat capsized and splintered just off the San Diego coast during a suspected human smuggling operation, authorities said.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over boats searching the area where a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

Wreckage and debris from a capsized boat washes ashore at Cabrillo National Monument near where a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

A U.S. Coast Guard boat goes past a sailboat during a search effort near where a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Rick Romero speaks at a news conference held after a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

Supervisory Border Patrol agent Jeff Stephenson speaks at a news conference held after a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast, Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

Wreckage and debris from a capsized boat washes ashore at Cabrillo National Monument near where a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over boats searching the area where a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

Items from a boat sit on the shoreline at Cabrillo National Monument near where it capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

Items from a boat sit on the shoreline at Cabrillo National Monument near where it capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over boats searching the area where a boat capsized just off the San Diego coast Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego.
Here are the latest updates:
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.