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 the coast of Baja California, Mexico, according to Al Jazeera English.

The rescue operation began after a Mayday call was transmitted around 1 a.m. local time, about 225 kilometers west of Ensenada, Mexico. A rescue helicopter arrived approximately two hours later.

It took about 90 minutes for the Coast Guard crew, including a rescue swimmer, to pull the 16 survivors from the water. The rescued individuals were Mexican nationals, the Mexican consulate confirmed.

Among the survivors, one was treated for a suspected shark bite and two were in critical condition. They were transported by helicopter to San Diego, California, and then to hospitals.

The Coast Guard and US Navy continue searching for 11 people still believed to be missing using helicopters, a fixed-wing plane, a cutter, and a navy combat ship. No vessel was found, only debris, and the boat's origin and purpose remain unclear.

The incident occurred in an area known for migrant smuggling as well as fishing and leisure boating, the Coast Guard noted.