Police in Austin, Texas say they have received several 911 calls about boats sinking into the waters of a large local lake during a boat parade being held in support of President Donald Trump.
According to local CBS affiliate KEYE-TV, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TSCO) has received numerous distress calls from sinking boats–apparently all along the route of the aquatic parade.
Other local media confirmed the sinkings:
“Several have sunk,” the TSCO reportedly told KVUE’s Pattrik Perez.
According to citizen journalists who took stock of live updates from EMS response crews via the aptly-titled Citizen app, the parade participants were “unruly” and “not adhering to safety measures.”
Online commenters made light of the events:
Upwards of at least 20 people were in the water as a result of the boats sinking, according to first responder reports. Fire crews, EMS divers and other rescue swimmers were called to conduct rescue missions. As of this writing, at least five boats appear to have been partially or fully submerged–but authorities have yet to provide an exact number.
The event, which was held to rally support for the president, was briefly all smiles until the first distress calls came in at around 12 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Held on Lake Travis, the human-constructed reservoir on the Colorado River, the “Trump Boat Parade” was advertised on Facebook and respondents signaled a high level of interest.
The event page promised patriotic festivities:
At noon on the day of the parade, 4 parachute jumpers will be jumping out of a helicopter with smoke and flags flying! They will be on the south side of the lake between Starns Island and Emerald Point. Two of which are military veterans and one is an amputee. Thank you for your service to our country and for volunteering for this event! We honor you!
“Boats of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to participate. Decorate your boats in patriotic colors and fly as many Trump flags as she can handle,” the event organizers advised. “Let’s really make a statement!”
[image via screengrab/KVUE]