The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for 11 people missing after a boat capsized approximately 140 miles west of Ensenada, off Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The search, which spanned more than 2,441 square miles, was called off on Sunday, October 18, after rescuers spent more than two days scouring the ocean.
A total of 27 people were reportedly on board when the vessel overturned on Friday, October 16. Sixteen survivors were rescued from the water and transported to hospitals in San Diego for medical treatment. The remaining 11 individuals have not been located.
While the exact circumstances of the capsizing remain unclear, reports indicate that some survivors sustained severe injuries consistent with shark bites, raising further concerns about the fate of the missing. However, officials have not officially confirmed that sharks were involved in any fatalities.
The distress call was reportedly received around 1 a.m. on Friday. Coast Guard crews located debris from the vessel and an aircrew managed to pull 16 survivors to safety. All rescued individuals were identified as Mexican nationals by the Mexican consulate in San Diego.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are interviewing the survivors as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident. The vessel was traveling along a route commonly used for illegal maritime smuggling operations, according to authorities.
Captain Joseph Meuse, chief of staff for the Coast Guard Southwest District, stated that the decision to suspend the search was difficult, emphasizing the challenging offshore conditions and the dynamic nature of the case. He also commended the cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities, as well as the U.S. Navy, during the operation.
Captain Meuse issued a warning regarding the extreme dangers posed by human-smuggling operations at sea, stating that traffickers have disregard for human life and endanger both migrants and rescue crews. Several agencies, including the Coast Guard and units from the U.S. Navy, participated in the extensive search and rescue effort. The incident is now under federal investigation, with no further details released regarding the missing persons or potential future search operations.