Search Underway for 11 Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Baja Coast; Survivors Report Shark Attacks
Rescue teams search for 11 missing people after a boat capsizes off Baja California. Survivors report shark bites; U.S. and Mexican authorities respond.
POLICY WIRE — Ensenada, Mexico — Search operations are currently underway for 11 individuals who remain missing following the capsizing of a vessel off the coast of Baja California. The incident, which involved a boat carrying 27 people, prompted a massive international response.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that 16 Mexican nationals were rescued on Friday. Several of these survivors required urgent medical attention for injuries that appeared to be consistent with shark bites, with the Coast Guard providing critical first aid during transport to San Diego.
According to Coast Guard Lt. Santiago Tamburini, a mayday signal was received at approximately 1 a.m. on Friday. A rescue helicopter arrived at the scene two hours later, and it took the crew—including a rescue swimmer—about 90 minutes to pull the 16 survivors from the water.
The vessel went down roughly 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Ensenada. While the area is known for fishing and leisure activities, it is also frequently utilized by smugglers, though the Coast Guard noted the incident occurred outside of U.S. waters.
A joint search effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and the Mexican Navy is utilizing multiple aircraft, boats, and a cutter to locate the missing. An additional helicopter is also being deployed to assist in the ongoing mission.
Petty Officer Charlie Valor stated that the agency launched its assets to provide necessary aid. Customs and Border Protection is currently interviewing the survivors, as the Mexican consulate in San Diego confirmed that all those rescued were Mexican nationals.
The incident follows a history of dangerous maritime smuggling attempts in the region. In May 2025, three people died when a boat capsized 35 miles (56 km) north of the U.S.-Mexico border, and in 2023, eight people perished in a tragic accident near a San Diego beach.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
