Search Underway for 11 Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Baja California Coast
16 Mexican nationals were rescued, including one treated for shark bites, as U.S. and Mexican authorities continue search efforts.
Authorities are continuing the search for 11 people believed to be missing after a boat departing from Mexico capsized off the coast of Baja California. 16 Mexican nationals were rescued on Friday, including one who was treated for shark bites.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy are searching the waters using multiple aircraft and boats, with assistance from the Mexican Navy. An additional helicopter was scheduled to be deployed later on Saturday, according to the Coast Guard.
The boat capsized in an area frequented by smugglers and did not occur in U.S. waters, according to the Coast Guard. Survivors told officials there were 27 people on board the vessel.
"We were able to help, and that’s why we launched our assets," said Petty Officer Charlie Valor on Saturday. The region is popular with fishing and leisure boats, but fatal attempts to transport migrants from Mexico to the U.S. have occurred in the past.
The Mexican consulate in San Diego confirmed that all those rescued were Mexican nationals. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is investigating and interviewing the survivors.
Rescuers were searching the area with helicopters, a fixed-wing plane, a cutter, and a Navy combat ship on Saturday. The search efforts remained ongoing.
A mayday call was transmitted from someone on the boat around 1 a.m. on Friday, said Coast Guard Lt. Santiago Tamburini. A rescue helicopter reached the site approximately two hours later. It took about 90 minutes for the crew, which included a rescue swimmer, to pull the 16 people from the water.
The boat went down about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Ensenada, Mexico. At least one person was treated for injuries consistent with shark bites. Three individuals were taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, including the person with a suspected shark bite and two others treated for cold exposure. Three more were evaluated at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and later discharged.
If survivors are determined to have been witnesses to a crime, they may be eligible for humanitarian parole and permitted to remain in the United States for a limited period.