World · Latin America · 2 hrs ago
US Coast Guard rescues 16 after boat sinks off Mexico's Baja coast
The US Coast Guard rescued 16 people from the Pacific Ocean after a boat sank off Mexico's Baja California coast on Friday.
Eleven people are believed to be missing, and survivors said as many as 27 people had been on board.
The boat went down about 225 kilometres west of Ensenada, after someone aboard sent a Mayday call reporting that it was sinking.
The rescued people were Mexican nationals and were flown to San Diego for hospital care; one had a suspected shark bite, and two were in critical condition.
The boat's purpose and route are unclear: the area is used by smugglers transporting migrants, but also by fishing and leisure boats.
US and Mexican teams are continuing the search with aircraft and vessels, but only debris—not the boat—was found.
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 16 people from the Pacific Ocean off Mexico’s Baja California coast after a boat sank.
Eleven people were believed to be missing, and search operations were continuing.
The boat sank about 225 kilometres west of Ensenada.
The rescued people were Mexican nationals, and one was treated for a suspected shark bite.
A survivor said as many as 27 people had been aboard, but the boat’s origin, destination and purpose were unclear.
- Who
- The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 16 people. Eleven others were believed to be missing.
- What
- A boat sank, leaving people in the Pacific Ocean; rescue and search operations followed.
- When
- Early Friday, after a Mayday call at about 1 a.m. local time.
- Where
- About 225 kilometres (140 miles) west of Ensenada, off Mexico’s Baja California coast.
- Why
- The cause of the sinking was unclear. The boat’s purpose was also unknown.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Someone aboard the boat sent a Mayday call reporting that the vessel was sinking.
A rescue helicopter reached the site west of Ensenada.
Coast Guard crew members, including a rescue swimmer, took about 90 minutes to pull 16 people from the water.
The Coast Guard and U.S. Navy continued searching for people believed to be missing.
- People rescued
- 16
- People believed missing
- 11
- Reported number aboard
- As many as 27
- Location
- About 225 kilometres (140 miles) west of Ensenada
- Rescue call
- About 1 a.m. local time on Friday
- Search area
- About 3,200 square kilometres
4 sources
US coastguard rescues 16 after boat sinks off Mexico's Baja coast
16 People Rescued in Pacific Ocean Off Mexico, U.S. Coast Guard Says
US Coast Guard says it has rescued at least 16 from the water off Mexico's Baja Coast
U.S. Coast Guard rescues 16 people floating in the Pacific, including one with suspected shark bite
What people are saying
People were holding onto each other, to debris, just treading and trying to stay above water before being rescued
Boats in that area can be for fishing, leisure, personal recreation. We just don’t know what they were doing out there. We all know it’s a suspected smuggling route
There was no sight of a vessel in the water, just straight people in the water
I wouldn’t want to be out there in a sea kayak