The US Coast Guard led a multinational search after a vessel capsized off Baja California, rescuing 16 people and leaving 11 unaccounted for, the Coast Guard said. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diego received a radio distress call reporting a vessel taking on water roughly 140 miles west of Ensenada, the agency said.
Coast Guard crews transported 16 survivors for medical evaluation and treatment, and provided lifesaving first aid during transfers to San Diego, the service said. The Mexican consulate in San Diego confirmed with The Associated Press that those rescued were Mexican nationals.
Three of the rescued sustained injuries consistent with shark bites, the Coast Guard said. Reports to the Coast Guard indicated there may have been 27 people aboard, though the agency said the exact number remains uncertain.
A coordinated response included crews from Air Station Ventura, Air Station Sacramento, and the Coast Guard Cutter Active, with support from the US Navy and the Mexican Navy. The USS Kingsville and a Navy helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 also joined the search, the Coast Guard said.
Search teams located debris and floating seats believed to be linked to the vessel. To my knowledge, all we found was debris and certain floating seats that are starting to give us a better idea of what vessel it may have been, Lt. Santiago Tamburini told NBC 7 San Diego, the Coast Guard said.
About 60 fire and medical personnel responded, and 13 ambulances transported victims to local hospitals, Brian Raines, assistant fire chief for the San Diego Fire‑Rescue Department, told NBC 7 San Diego.
Context And Risks Around Maritime Smuggling
The Coast Guard framed the incident as illustrating the extreme dangers of taking to the sea. Coast Guard Capt. Robert Tucker said the vessel had a large number of people onboard and was following a route normally used in illegal maritime smuggling operations, and he warned that offshore conditions are unforgiving and can quickly result in death.
Authorities have pointed to several recent deadly maritime smuggling incidents in the same region. Prosecutors said a panga‑style vessel capsized near Del Mar, killing at least four people, including a 14‑year‑old boy from India; a 10‑year‑old girl who had been aboard was later identified by DNA, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California reported.
Prosecutors later said two boat captains pleaded guilty in connection with that capsizing. In another prior case, eight people died after two suspected smuggling boats approached a San Diego beach, officials reported.
Experts speaking to USA TODAY have previously warned that voyages like this often involve overcrowded and poorly maintained vessels. They said such boats are sometimes piloted in low visibility conditions to avoid detection, dramatically increasing the risks for everyone aboard.
