Search continues after boat capsizes off Baja California coast. Survivors attacked by sharks

Multiple survivors were treated for suspected shark bites aft a boat, departing from Mexico, capsized disconnected the seashore of Baja California, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 16 Mexican nationals had already been rescued connected Friday, and authorities proceed the hunt for 11 radical believed to beryllium missing.

“Several of the individuals rescued were suffering from terrible injuries accordant with shark bites, and the Coast Guard provided life-saving archetypal assistance portion en way (to) San Diego,” said the bureau successful a connection connected Saturday.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy are searching the waters utilizing aggregate craft and boats, on with assistance from the Mexican Navy. An further chopper volition beryllium deployed aboriginal today, according to the Coast Guard.

The vessel capsized successful an country frequented by smugglers and did not hap successful U.S. waters, according to the Coast Guard. Survivors told officials determination were 27 radical connected board.

“We were capable to help, and that’s wherefore we launched our assets," said Petty Officer Charlie Valor connected Saturday.

The portion is fashionable with sportfishing and leisure boats, but fatal attempts to transport migrants from Mexico to the U.S. person occurred successful the past.

The Mexican consulate successful San Diego said each those rescued were Mexican nationals. The Coast Guard said Customs and Border Protection was investigating and interviewing the survivors, but the bureau did not instantly respond to requests for updates.

If survivors were witnesses to a crime, they whitethorn beryllium eligible for humanitarian parole and permitted to stay successful the state for a constricted period.

Rescuers were searching the country with helicopters, a fixed-wing plane, a cutter and a Navy combat vessel connected Saturday. The efforts stay ongoing.

Mayday telephone astir 1 a.m.

A mayday telephone was transmitted from idiosyncratic connected the vessel astir 1 a.m. Friday, said Coast Guard Lt. Santiago Tamburini. A rescue chopper reached the tract astir 2 hours later. It took astir 90 minutes for the crew, which included a rescue swimmer, to propulsion the 16 radical from the water, Tamburini said.

The vessel went down astir 140 miles (225 kilometers) westbound of Ensenada, Mexico. There person been respective episodes wherever migrant vessels capsized en way to California successful caller years.

In May of 2025, astatine slightest 3 radical died erstwhile a vessel flipped disconnected the seashore astir 35 miles (56 km) northbound of the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2023, 8 radical were killed successful 1 of the deadliest maritime smuggling accidents disconnected the U.S. coast, erstwhile 2 boats approached a San Diego formation successful dense fog and 1 capsized successful the surf.

__

Associated Press writers Julie Watson, Matt Brown, Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Amy Taxin, Fabiola Sanchez and Laura Turbay contributed to this story.