Three children died Friday after the boat they were traveling in sank during a strong storm in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

The victims were a six-year-old boy and two girls, ages seven and ten, who were found unconscious inside the boat by rescue teams who descended to about 32 feet (almost 10 meters) deep.

According to Lake Geneva Police, the three minors were wearing their life jackets when they were located.

A series of waves caused the shipwreck

Authorities reported that the boat, a 2024 model Nautique P25 approximately 25 feet in length, was carrying ten people, whose ages ranged from six to 75 years old.

According to the preliminary investigation, a violent storm surprised the group while sailing. Two large waves hit the bow of the boat, allowing a considerable amount of water to enter and causing the boat to begin to lean towards one of its sides.

Shortly after, a third wave hit the boat and caused it to capsize, throwing all of its occupants into the water.

The boat quickly sank to the bottom of the lake.

Seven people were rescued

A boat sailing in the area immediately alerted emergency services by calling 911.

Thanks to that warning, rescue teams managed to save seven occupants, including a 12-year-old boy.

The three missing minors were later found by divers inside the sunken boat.

Although they received resuscitation maneuvers and were transferred to medical centers, the authorities later confirmed their death.

The Police indicated that preliminary medical information indicates that the minors did not have external injuries and that the preliminary cause of death is compatible with drowning in fresh water.

The captain tried to face the storm

The boat was driven by a 46-year-old man who, according to authorities, has extensive sailing experience.

The storm generated wind gusts of between 90 and 100 miles per hour, which caused damage to trees and buildings in the area.

Police explained that as weather conditions rapidly deteriorated, the captain attempted to seek shelter. When he failed to do so, he oriented the boat against the wind following the procedures for this type of situation.

The boat's occupants were residents of Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois, as well as Fontana, Wisconsin.

The storm caused multiple emergencies

During the storm, four other people who had fallen into the water were rescued by boaters who were in Lake Geneva.

One of them reported that he managed to help a father and his daughter, while another boat rescued two more people.

Another witness described the storm as a potentially deadly situation and noted that the captain of their boat ordered them to put on life jackets and prepare for a possible capsize.

Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared a state of emergency after the storm, which also left one person injured by a falling tree.

Storms that hit the Midwest and Northeast over the holiday weekend also left more than 750,000 customers without power.

The investigation into the shipwreck continues and authorities have not offered further details about the health status of the other occupants of the boat.