US Coast Guard rescues 16 migrants off Mexico's Baja coast, 11 still missing
A Mayday call led to a rescue operation that saved 16 people and left 11 still unaccounted for.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The US Coast Guard rescued 16 Mexican nationals after a boat began sinking off Mexico's Baja California coast on Friday, while 11 others are still missing, according to both the Associated Press and Al Jazeera.
What happened
The vessel went down about 225 km (140 mi) west of Ensenada, Mexico. A Mayday call was transmitted at roughly 1 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT). A rescue helicopter arrived about two hours later and, after roughly 90 minutes, the crew—including a rescue swimmer—pulled the 16 people from the water.
What the reports add
- Al Jazeera notes that the rescued were air‑lifted to San Diego, California, and taken to local hospitals.
- The Associated Press reports that one survivor is being treated for a suspected shark bite and two are in critical condition.
- Both outlets say the boat sank in a zone commonly used by smugglers moving migrants to the United States, and that the area also sees fishing and leisure traffic.
- Al Jazeera adds that the Coast Guard and US Navy are continuing the search with two helicopters, a fixed‑wing aircraft, a cutter and a navy combat ship.
- According to the Al Jazeera report, only debris was found and officials could not confirm the type of vessel or its intended route.
What was said
“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,” Coast Guard Lieutenant Santiago Tamburini told reporters, as cited by Al Jazeera.
“A rescue helicopter reached the site about two hours after someone on the boat transmitted a Mayday call at about 1 a.m. (08:00 GMT) and it took about 90 minutes for the crew, which included a rescue swimmer, to pull the 16 people from the water,” Lt. Tamburini said, reported by both outlets.
How it came about
The incident occurred in an area frequently used by smugglers transporting migrants to the United States, as noted by the AP. The region has also been affected by recent storms, including Hurricane Rachel, which heightened maritime hazards earlier in October.
Key facts
- The US Coast Guard rescued 16 people from a sinking boat off Baja California. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Eleven people are still missing after the incident. (aljazeera.com)
- The rescue helicopter arrived about two hours after a Mayday call at 1 a.m. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- One survivor is being treated for a suspected shark bite; two are in critical condition. (winnipegfreepress.com)
