Follow-Up: Search Ends for 11 Missing After Boat Capsizes off Baja California; 16 Rescued to San Diego Hospitals
SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Coast Guard on the evening of October 18 suspended its search for 11 people missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Baja California. The vessel overturned in the early hours of October 16 about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Ensenada, Mexico, with 27 people believed on board. Sixteen people were rescued the same day and taken to hospitals in San Diego; 11 remain missing.
The Coast Guard's Southwest District said watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diego received a radio distress call at about 1 a.m. on October 16 reporting a vessel taking on water. A helicopter crew from Air Station Ventura reached the scene about two hours later and pulled 16 people from the water in roughly 90 minutes. Several of those rescued had severe injuries consistent with shark bites, and Coast Guard personnel provided lifesaving first aid during the transport to San Diego. All of the rescued are Mexican nationals and were transferred to San Diego hospitals for medical evaluation and care.
Over nearly four days, the Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the Mexican Navy searched more than 2,441 square miles for a combined 89 hours using helicopters, planes and multiple boats, without finding additional survivors, before suspending the search on Sunday evening. "Suspending a search is never easy, and this was an exceptionally dynamic case, far offshore, in rough weather," said Capt. Joseph Meuse, chief of staff of the Coast Guard Southwest District, who also thanked Mexico and the U.S. Navy for their coordination and assistance.
The Coast Guard said the boat was traveling along a route normally used in maritime smuggling operations, though the area is also used by fishing and leisure boats, and the vessel's origin and destination remain unclear. Customs and Border Protection is interviewing the survivors, and the incident remains under federal investigation.
Three of the survivors were treated at Scripps Mercy Hospital. The Coast Guard said the route is typically used by maritime smuggling operations; the vessel’s origin and destination remain unknown, and federal agencies are questioning the survivors as part of an investigation. (GSM reporting based on the Associated Press and U.S. Coast Guard statements)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国海岸警卫队MH-60直升机与巡逻艇进行绞车救援演练（资料图）。图片来源：美国海岸警卫队（Tracey Mertens摄），公共领域。Photo: A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter and boat crew conduct a hoist demonstration (file photo). Source: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Tracey Mertens, public domain.
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