Daniel Ngendahimana
Sixteen Mexican nationals were rescued after a boat carrying 27 people capsized about 140 miles (225 km) west of Ensenada, Mexico.
The U.S. Coast Guard said several survivors had serious injuries believed to be caused by shark bites. Rescuers gave them emergency medical care while taking them to San Diego.
“Several of the individuals rescued were suffering from severe injuries consistent with shark bites,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
Authorities are still searching for 11 people believed to be missing. The search involves the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the Mexican Navy.
The boat sent a distress call at around 1 a.m. on Friday. A rescue helicopter arrived about two hours later and helped pull the survivors from the water.
Officials said the boat capsized in an area known for migrant smuggling, but the incident did not happen in U.S. waters.
Similar boat accidents have happened in the past along routes between Mexico and California. In March 2023, eight people died when a migrant boat capsized near San Diego, while in May 2025, at least three people died in another boat accident off the California coast.
In March 2024, eight Chinese migrants also died when their boat capsized off Oaxaca, southern Mexico.
These incidents show the dangers of travelling by sea in small boats, especially when conditions are rough. In the latest incident, 16 people were rescued, while 11 remained missing as the search continued.
