Boaters remain missing as search continues off Palos Verdes coast

The U.S. Coast Guard resumed searching Wednesday for two men who went missing early Tuesday while fishing in heavy waves off the Palos Verdes coast.

The wreckage of a boat that is believed to be theirs was found later Tuesday, but there was no sign of the men.

Tuesday’s search effort began at first light and included a helicopter, which arrived at the scene at 8:30 a.m., according to a U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman, who gave no numbers in respect to manpower.

THE SEARCH: 2 men go missing in Palos Verdes, overturned boat found

The Coast Guard was notified just after 5 a.m. Tuesday that the boat was overdue, Lt. Sondra Kneen told City News Service. The men were scheduled to arrive near Cabrillo Marina.

The Coast Guard sent ships to search the area, and later aircraft joined the effort, Kneen said. Other agencies were using drones to search the water, she added.

The fishermen, described as two men in their 50s, launched from Cabrillo Beach on Monday and were supposed to return by midnight, KTLA5 reported.

Crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department began a search about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and found a boat up against the rocks near the 1800 block of Paseo Del Mar, but the men remained missing, the fire department said.

Authorities were warning the public to stay out of the water at Southern California beaches Tuesday and Wednesday due to large waves and dangerous rip currents.

A high surf advisory was issued by the National Weather Service until 9 p.m. Wednesday for Los Angeles County beaches and 4 p.m. Wednesday for Orange County.

Forecasters said “large breaking waves” of 8 to 13 feet were impacting west-facing beaches Tuesday morning. Those waves were expected to back off to about 6 to 10 feet, but that was still be enough to present a danger.