{"id":5068,"date":"2026-07-04T20:09:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T20:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/04\/three-children-dead-after-boat-capsizes-during-storm-in-wisconsin\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T20:09:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T20:09:55","slug":"three-children-dead-after-boat-capsizes-during-storm-in-wisconsin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=5068","title":{"rendered":"Three children dead after boat capsizes during storm in Wisconsin"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"2e1f04f6-90ea-418c-897f-41000fe7a0da\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Boats in a lake with a road running alongside it with cars on it.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/c5ab4d5b295e7cfd5be11f966d66ed08ff837ea6\/0_0_10001_6183\/master\/10001.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"287.4807519248075\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Law enforcement use search boats on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin on 3 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: AP\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"2e1f04f6-90ea-418c-897f-41000fe7a0da\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Law enforcement use search boats on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin on 3 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: AP\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Three children dead after boat capsizes during storm in Wisconsin<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Officials rescued seven other people after a sudden storm led to a boat sinking on Geneva Lake<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Three children died after a boat capsized on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/wisconsin\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Wisconsin<\/a>\u2019s Geneva Lake during inclement weather on the eve of the US\u2019s semiquincentennial celebrations, and seven other people had to be rescued by emergency responders, according to officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A recreational motor boat with 10 passengers, including four children, sank on Friday afternoon as the boat \u201cattempted to navigate to safety as weather conditions deteriorated\u201d amid an intense, sudden storm, the city of Lake Geneva police department <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LakeGenevaPD\/posts\/pfbid028qTHJUdPPYSoDj1yExjVwVk3Y9tcbTFq9sFEbFgHBsqFnJGUPAGToiyUed13iTpCl\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">First responders rescued one child and six adults \u2013 but three children were reported missing. They were later recovered yet pronounced dead after rescuers administered life-saving measures.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"e5f77266-1825-43ac-9ca4-ec5523877f1b\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-15vltj4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/29\/tennessee-floods-mother-death\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">Tennessee woman dies while trying to save her son from high flood waters<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Officials confirmed that all four children were wearing lifejackets at the time of the capsizing, which officials said was a \u201creminder how quickly severe weather can develop on area waterways\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe strongly urge all boaters to closely monitor weather forecasts, remain vigilant of changing atmospheric conditions and seek safe harbor immediately when threatening weather approaches,\u201d the police department said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Police said the identities of the victims could not immediately be released as an investigation into the capsizing continued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Lake Geneva officials declared a state of emergency due to Friday\u2019s intense storm conditions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Storm damage was reported throughout the Lake Geneva area, a popular destination for summer recreation. The small southern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/wisconsin\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Wisconsin<\/a> town draws tourists annually, particularly during the summer months, due to its proximity to Geneva Lake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Harsh winds toppled trees and power lines, damaging buildings in the area, the local undersheriff Tom Hausner said during a news conference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Hausner added that the officials received several 911 calls reporting damage as well as people trapped in buildings and seeking assistance. Hausner noted that deputies were delayed in responding to some calls due to fallen power lines and other debris.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cPower lines are all over the place. We are urging people to stay away,\u201d Hausner said during the press briefing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">At least one person sustained minor injuries after being hit by a toppled trees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Friday\u2019s storm came as much of the US has otherwise experienced extreme heat heading into Saturday\u2019s Independence Day holiday. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/usa250\/2026\/07\/03\/heat-wave-july-4-events-cancelled-forecast\/90793578007\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">estimated 250 million people<\/a> were told to expect to encounter dangerous levels of heat as temperatures soar nationwide amid the Fourth of July weekend marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence from the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/wisconsin\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/extreme-weather\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Extreme weather<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Three%20children%20dead%20after%20boat%20capsizes%20during%20storm%20in%20Wisconsin&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/04\/wisconsin-children-drown?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjul%2F04%2Fwisconsin-children-drown&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jul\/04\/wisconsin-children-drown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-axwinp\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Law enforcement use search boats on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin on 3 July 2026. Photograph: AP\/AP View image<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5068\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}