The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search on Sunday for about 11 people missing after a boat sank roughly 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico, early Friday. Sixteen people were rescued and taken to hospitals in San Diego.
The Coast Guard said the incident is now under federal investigation.
What happened to the boat?
At about 1 a.m. on Friday, October 16, a distress call came in from a vessel whose occupants said it was sinking, NBC 7 San Diego reported. The Coast Guard began helping Mexican authorities with a search-and-rescue operation in the Pacific off Baja California.
Rescuers pulled 16 people from the water that morning. Searchers found only floating debris, with no sign of the boat itself, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.
Officials have not released the vessel's type, size, origin or destination.
How many people are missing?
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Believed aboard (preliminary) | 27 |
| Rescued | 16 |
| Missing | About 11 |
| Confirmed deaths | None reported |
The Coast Guard said it did not have a confirmed total of how many people were aboard.
What condition were the survivors in?
All 16 were taken to San Diego for treatment. FOX 11 reported that they were Mexican citizens. Two were in critical condition, others suffered cold exposure, and one had a suspected shark bite.
Their names have not been released.
How big was the search?
| Area searched | More than 2,441 square miles |
| Combined search time | 89 hours |
| Agencies | U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican authorities, U.S. Navy |
| Suspended | Sunday, Oct. 18 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said its officers were not involved in the response, NBC 7 reported.
"The sea is unforgiving," Coast Guard Lt. Santiago Tamburini said Friday. Capt. Rob Tucker added: "As long as we think it's viable, we will continue to search."
Was it a smuggling boat?
That has not been confirmed. On Friday, the Coast Guard said it had not determined whether the boat was involved in smuggling. The waters west of Baja California are a suspected maritime smuggling route, but they are also used by fishing and recreational boats, FOX 11 reported.
Officials said they did not know whether engine failure, getting lost or being pushed off course played a role.
When the search was suspended on Sunday, Capt. Joseph Meuse, chief of staff for the Coast Guard Southwest District, said "human traffickers have zero regard for human life," according to NBC 7.
What happens now?
The case is under federal investigation. Mexican authorities may continue their own inquiry. The Coast Guard can resume a search if new information comes in.
