The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 16 people from the sea about 120 miles off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico, Friday morning, and crews were continuing to search for additional victims reported to still be in the water after a boat went under.
Someone aboard the boat put out a distress call about 1 a.m. reporting that the vessel was taking on water and that 27 people were onboard, Petty Officer Charlie Valor said. Air and surface crews from across California responded, along with the U.S. Navy, and based their search area on the direction from which the signal had come.
A Coast Guard helicopter based out of Ventura was first to reach the site, about 2 a.m., and its crew reported finding 16 people in the water, Valor said. The boat was not located.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Brian Raines said during a news conference that 16 patients were taken to hospitals by 13 ambulances waiting at the Coast Guard San Diego headquarters. Two people were reported to be in critical condition, while the rest had moderate injuries, Raines said.
It was not immediately clear if any had been wearing lifejackets.
The search was continuing for additional possible victims, according to Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard sector commander in San Diego. The Coast Guard was leading the effort, including the helicopter from Ventura, a fixed-wing plane from Sacramento and vessels based around the state, he said. The U.S. Navy was also helping.
“Right now the priority is search and rescue,” Tucker said at the news conference. “People are still out in the water.”
Coast Guard and Fire-Rescue officials were not able to immediately confirm additional details about the victims or the boat they were on.
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