SAN DIEGO (CNS/CBS 8) - Dozens of people were spotted running along Mission Beach Monday after a panga boat washed ashore near Belmont Park, police said.
Lifeguards alerted San Diego police to the fishing boat off Ventura Place near Ocean Front Walk at around 6:40 a.m., San Diego police Officer Humberto Hernandez said.
Hernandez said lifeguards were notifying Border Patrol agents regarding the discovery.
Miranda Fuller, on vacation with her family from Phoenix, woke up and noticed something bizarre outside her rented beach house. A panga boat packed with people.
"It just made a b-line straight into the waves and beaches itself then two to four heads and then like 20 people then they were running up the beach," Fuller said.
She captured photos on Mission Beach around 6:30 a.m. She says a large group of undocumented immigrants wearing dark clothes and hoodies ran through an alley.
In years past, other panga boats came ashore to Pacific Beach, and as far as Ventura County.
"We do have remote video surveillance cameras looking into the ocean for any smuggling attempts," a Border Patrol officer said.
In some cases, the undocumented immigrants paid $6,000 to $7,000 and suffered hypothermia, dehydration and bruises. One man even died.
Monday, Border Patrol called out their chopper and officers searched along the boardwalk for evidence.
While people enjoying the waves say they're shocked, officials were able to detain at least two people. The rest are still on the run.
"It's not worth it to risk your life," witness Juda Maddy said.