Search Continues for Missing San Diego Boater and Nephew Lost in Baja Storm
A massive search and rescue operation is underway for an uncle and his 12-year-old nephew who disappeared off the coast of Baja California during a fishing trip that coincided with Tropical Storm Rachel.
A desperate search is entering its sixth day for Oscar Ulloa, 40, and his 12-year-old nephew, Adrian Caro Villares, who vanished on Saturday morning off San Felipe, Baja California. The pair had set out for a short fishing trip when they disappeared.
Their disappearance occurred as Tropical Storm Rachel made landfall in the region, bringing severe winds and flooding that resulted in at least eight deaths. Neither Ulloa nor Villares has been heard from since they departed.
"It's pretty scary and traumatizing to know there's a kid with him lost at sea," said Alister Barradell, Ulloa's cousin. He added, "During that time, the weather did turn bad, so we're not sure if we had engine problems or something more catastrophic."
Mexican naval authorities and civil protection units have initiated an extensive air and sea search in the Upper Gulf of California. Vice Admiral Juan Carlos Vera Minjares confirmed that six naval units, including patrol boats and a specialized search aircraft, have covered more than 9,900 square nautical miles.
Search crews have reportedly found a cooler and a life jacket adrift, but authorities have not yet confirmed if these items belong to the missing vessel. The family has chartered a private aircraft to aid in the search from above and is urging local fishermen and residents in the northern Sea of Cortez to report any sightings.
Search efforts are ongoing.