16 Pulled From Sea Off Baja, 2 Critical; Coast Guard and Navy Still Searching for up to 14 People
2710 N Harbor Dr
Published · Updated
Summary
- The U.S. Coast Guard, with help from the U.S. Navy and Mexican authorities, is searching for as many as 14 people after a distress call around 1 a.m. Friday reported a vessel taking on water with 27 people aboard, roughly 120 to 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
- Crews found no boat, only people in the water, and pulled 16 survivors out.
- They were flown and shipped to the Coast Guard base on North Harbor Drive in San Diego, where 13 ambulances took them to hospitals; two are in critical condition and the rest have moderate injuries, including one suspected shark bite and cases of cold exposure.
- The Coast Guard says the 27 figure came from a survivor and has not been independently confirmed.
- City officials initially described the boat as a human smuggling vessel but have since said they have no information to support that; the Coast Guard says the circumstances remain under investigation.
Timeline
Per NBC News, the Mexican Navy has been deployed to assist in the search.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says its officers are not involved in the response.
The Coast Guard says it has not confirmed what the boat was doing, only that it was reportedly on a route commonly associated with maritime smuggling, and that the circumstances remain under investigation.
The City of San Diego has walked back its earlier statement that the vessel was involved in human smuggling, saying it does not have information to indicate that at this time.
Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander, said the priority remains search and rescue with people still in the water. He said a helicopter from Ventura, a plane from Sacramento, vessels from across California and U.S. Navy ships are searching.
Raines said no boat was visible when crews reached the first survivors and all of them were in the water. He said it is not yet known whether they were wearing life jackets.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Brian Raines said at a news conference that 13 ambulances took the 16 survivors to hospitals from the Coast Guard base. Two are in critical condition; the rest have moderate injuries.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Charlie Valor says someone aboard the boat called for help around 1 a.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water with 27 people on board.
The city spokesperson said more bodies may be in the water. No deaths have been officially confirmed.
Coast Guard aircraft from Ventura and Sacramento have joined the search for the 11 to 14 people still believed to be in the water.
San Diego Fire-Rescue says all 16 people rescued have been taken to hospitals from the Coast Guard base on North Harbor Drive.
A San Diego city spokesperson confirmed the vessel was a human smuggling boat. What caused it to go down has not been released.
The Coast Guard says the vessel was reported in distress around 1 a.m. PT more than 100 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
Supervisors are requested at the command post for a briefing after the last patients are transported.
Air and surface crews are still searching for those who remain unaccounted for.
15 have been rescued and are being brought to the Coast Guard base in San Diego.
The Coast Guard has now confirmed 27 people went into the water about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
County emergency protocol has been activated to manage the incident, according to the incident commander.
A Coast Guard representative is requested at the command post on the north end of the parking lot.
Ambulances are coordinating to return for more patients after hospital drop-offs.
Five more advanced life support ambulances have been requested to assist at the scene.
Ambulance staging for incoming units is set up and operational.
Crews are working on giving assignments to units arriving on scene, including triage, treatment and transporting patients.
At least 6 additional units are en route to the scene, per PulsePoint.
PulsePoint confirms 19 firefighting and medical units are on scene to assist with incoming patients, though the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The first round of patients has arrived by helicopter, and triage is being managed by Engine 3.
Engine 201 is assigned to treatment, and their medic will handle medical communications.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 2710 N Harbor Dr.
Per NBC News, the Mexican Navy has been deployed to assist in the search.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says its officers are not involved in the response.
The Coast Guard says it has not confirmed what the boat was doing, only that it was reportedly on a route commonly associated with maritime smuggling, and that the circumstances remain under investigation.
The City of San Diego has walked back its earlier statement that the vessel was involved in human smuggling, saying it does not have information to indicate that at this time.
Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander, said the priority remains search and rescue with people still in the water. He said a helicopter from Ventura, a plane from Sacramento, vessels from across California and U.S. Navy ships are searching.
Raines said no boat was visible when crews reached the first survivors and all of them were in the water. He said it is not yet known whether they were wearing life jackets.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Brian Raines said at a news conference that 13 ambulances took the 16 survivors to hospitals from the Coast Guard base. Two are in critical condition; the rest have moderate injuries.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Charlie Valor says someone aboard the boat called for help around 1 a.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water with 27 people on board.
The city spokesperson said more bodies may be in the water. No deaths have been officially confirmed.
Coast Guard aircraft from Ventura and Sacramento have joined the search for the 11 to 14 people still believed to be in the water.
San Diego Fire-Rescue says all 16 people rescued have been taken to hospitals from the Coast Guard base on North Harbor Drive.
A San Diego city spokesperson confirmed the vessel was a human smuggling boat. What caused it to go down has not been released.
The Coast Guard says the vessel was reported in distress around 1 a.m. PT more than 100 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
Supervisors are requested at the command post for a briefing after the last patients are transported.
Air and surface crews are still searching for those who remain unaccounted for.
15 have been rescued and are being brought to the Coast Guard base in San Diego.
The Coast Guard has now confirmed 27 people went into the water about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
County emergency protocol has been activated to manage the incident, according to the incident commander.
A Coast Guard representative is requested at the command post on the north end of the parking lot.
Ambulances are coordinating to return for more patients after hospital drop-offs.
Five more advanced life support ambulances have been requested to assist at the scene.
Ambulance staging for incoming units is set up and operational.
Crews are working on giving assignments to units arriving on scene, including triage, treatment and transporting patients.
At least 6 additional units are en route to the scene, per PulsePoint.
PulsePoint confirms 19 firefighting and medical units are on scene to assist with incoming patients, though the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The first round of patients has arrived by helicopter, and triage is being managed by Engine 3.
Engine 201 is assigned to treatment, and their medic will handle medical communications.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 2710 N Harbor Dr.
Per NBC News, the Mexican Navy has been deployed to assist in the search.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says its officers are not involved in the response.
The Coast Guard says it has not confirmed what the boat was doing, only that it was reportedly on a route commonly associated with maritime smuggling, and that the circumstances remain under investigation.
The City of San Diego has walked back its earlier statement that the vessel was involved in human smuggling, saying it does not have information to indicate that at this time.
Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander, said the priority remains search and rescue with people still in the water. He said a helicopter from Ventura, a plane from Sacramento, vessels from across California and U.S. Navy ships are searching.
Raines said no boat was visible when crews reached the first survivors and all of them were in the water. He said it is not yet known whether they were wearing life jackets.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Brian Raines said at a news conference that 13 ambulances took the 16 survivors to hospitals from the Coast Guard base. Two are in critical condition; the rest have moderate injuries.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Charlie Valor says someone aboard the boat called for help around 1 a.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water with 27 people on board.
The city spokesperson said more bodies may be in the water. No deaths have been officially confirmed.
Coast Guard aircraft from Ventura and Sacramento have joined the search for the 11 to 14 people still believed to be in the water.
San Diego Fire-Rescue says all 16 people rescued have been taken to hospitals from the Coast Guard base on North Harbor Drive.
A San Diego city spokesperson confirmed the vessel was a human smuggling boat. What caused it to go down has not been released.
The Coast Guard says the vessel was reported in distress around 1 a.m. PT more than 100 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
Supervisors are requested at the command post for a briefing after the last patients are transported.
Air and surface crews are still searching for those who remain unaccounted for.
15 have been rescued and are being brought to the Coast Guard base in San Diego.
The Coast Guard has now confirmed 27 people went into the water about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
County emergency protocol has been activated to manage the incident, according to the incident commander.
A Coast Guard representative is requested at the command post on the north end of the parking lot.
Ambulances are coordinating to return for more patients after hospital drop-offs.
Five more advanced life support ambulances have been requested to assist at the scene.
Ambulance staging for incoming units is set up and operational.
Crews are working on giving assignments to units arriving on scene, including triage, treatment and transporting patients.
At least 6 additional units are en route to the scene, per PulsePoint.
PulsePoint confirms 19 firefighting and medical units are on scene to assist with incoming patients, though the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The first round of patients has arrived by helicopter, and triage is being managed by Engine 3.
Engine 201 is assigned to treatment, and their medic will handle medical communications.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 2710 N Harbor Dr.
Per NBC News, the Mexican Navy has been deployed to assist in the search.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says its officers are not involved in the response.
The Coast Guard says it has not confirmed what the boat was doing, only that it was reportedly on a route commonly associated with maritime smuggling, and that the circumstances remain under investigation.
The City of San Diego has walked back its earlier statement that the vessel was involved in human smuggling, saying it does not have information to indicate that at this time.
Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander, said the priority remains search and rescue with people still in the water. He said a helicopter from Ventura, a plane from Sacramento, vessels from across California and U.S. Navy ships are searching.
Raines said no boat was visible when crews reached the first survivors and all of them were in the water. He said it is not yet known whether they were wearing life jackets.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Brian Raines said at a news conference that 13 ambulances took the 16 survivors to hospitals from the Coast Guard base. Two are in critical condition; the rest have moderate injuries.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Charlie Valor says someone aboard the boat called for help around 1 a.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water with 27 people on board.
The city spokesperson said more bodies may be in the water. No deaths have been officially confirmed.
Coast Guard aircraft from Ventura and Sacramento have joined the search for the 11 to 14 people still believed to be in the water.
San Diego Fire-Rescue says all 16 people rescued have been taken to hospitals from the Coast Guard base on North Harbor Drive.
A San Diego city spokesperson confirmed the vessel was a human smuggling boat. What caused it to go down has not been released.
The Coast Guard says the vessel was reported in distress around 1 a.m. PT more than 100 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
Supervisors are requested at the command post for a briefing after the last patients are transported.
Air and surface crews are still searching for those who remain unaccounted for.
15 have been rescued and are being brought to the Coast Guard base in San Diego.
The Coast Guard has now confirmed 27 people went into the water about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
County emergency protocol has been activated to manage the incident, according to the incident commander.
A Coast Guard representative is requested at the command post on the north end of the parking lot.
Ambulances are coordinating to return for more patients after hospital drop-offs.
Five more advanced life support ambulances have been requested to assist at the scene.
Ambulance staging for incoming units is set up and operational.
Crews are working on giving assignments to units arriving on scene, including triage, treatment and transporting patients.
At least 6 additional units are en route to the scene, per PulsePoint.
PulsePoint confirms 19 firefighting and medical units are on scene to assist with incoming patients, though the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The first round of patients has arrived by helicopter, and triage is being managed by Engine 3.
Engine 201 is assigned to treatment, and their medic will handle medical communications.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 2710 N Harbor Dr.
Per NBC News, the Mexican Navy has been deployed to assist in the search.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says its officers are not involved in the response.
The Coast Guard says it has not confirmed what the boat was doing, only that it was reportedly on a route commonly associated with maritime smuggling, and that the circumstances remain under investigation.
The City of San Diego has walked back its earlier statement that the vessel was involved in human smuggling, saying it does not have information to indicate that at this time.
Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander, said the priority remains search and rescue with people still in the water. He said a helicopter from Ventura, a plane from Sacramento, vessels from across California and U.S. Navy ships are searching.
Raines said no boat was visible when crews reached the first survivors and all of them were in the water. He said it is not yet known whether they were wearing life jackets.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Brian Raines said at a news conference that 13 ambulances took the 16 survivors to hospitals from the Coast Guard base. Two are in critical condition; the rest have moderate injuries.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Charlie Valor says someone aboard the boat called for help around 1 a.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water with 27 people on board.
The city spokesperson said more bodies may be in the water. No deaths have been officially confirmed.
Coast Guard aircraft from Ventura and Sacramento have joined the search for the 11 to 14 people still believed to be in the water.
San Diego Fire-Rescue says all 16 people rescued have been taken to hospitals from the Coast Guard base on North Harbor Drive.
A San Diego city spokesperson confirmed the vessel was a human smuggling boat. What caused it to go down has not been released.
The Coast Guard says the vessel was reported in distress around 1 a.m. PT more than 100 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
Supervisors are requested at the command post for a briefing after the last patients are transported.
Air and surface crews are still searching for those who remain unaccounted for.
15 have been rescued and are being brought to the Coast Guard base in San Diego.
The Coast Guard has now confirmed 27 people went into the water about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
County emergency protocol has been activated to manage the incident, according to the incident commander.
A Coast Guard representative is requested at the command post on the north end of the parking lot.
Ambulances are coordinating to return for more patients after hospital drop-offs.
Five more advanced life support ambulances have been requested to assist at the scene.
Ambulance staging for incoming units is set up and operational.
Crews are working on giving assignments to units arriving on scene, including triage, treatment and transporting patients.
At least 6 additional units are en route to the scene, per PulsePoint.
PulsePoint confirms 19 firefighting and medical units are on scene to assist with incoming patients, though the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The first round of patients has arrived by helicopter, and triage is being managed by Engine 3.
Engine 201 is assigned to treatment, and their medic will handle medical communications.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 2710 N Harbor Dr.
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Comments30
Those poor people, may god help them
Those of you who don't recognize how desperate people would have to be to flee their own country to seek work and a better life should count your blessings. You may one day soon be trying to flee the U.S. from a fascist dictator. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
@moondriven Where are you going to flee to?
Whether or not it's legal is besides the point. They are human beings. They are also desperate enough to take such a risk. That tells you of the struggles they are facing. People in the U.S. have lost their compassion. How did your family get here?
My family came here LEGALLY! That's the difference!
Some of these comments are just evil.
Totally agree with you
Those poor people, may god help them
Those of you who don't recognize how desperate people would have to be to flee their own country to seek work and a better life should count your blessings. You may one day soon be trying to flee the U.S. from a fascist dictator. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
@moondriven Where are you going to flee to?
Whether or not it's legal is besides the point. They are human beings. They are also desperate enough to take such a risk. That tells you of the struggles they are facing. People in the U.S. have lost their compassion. How did your family get here?
My family came here LEGALLY! That's the difference!
Some of these comments are just evil.
Totally agree with you
Those poor people, may god help them
Those of you who don't recognize how desperate people would have to be to flee their own country to seek work and a better life should count your blessings. You may one day soon be trying to flee the U.S. from a fascist dictator. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
@moondriven Where are you going to flee to?
Whether or not it's legal is besides the point. They are human beings. They are also desperate enough to take such a risk. That tells you of the struggles they are facing. People in the U.S. have lost their compassion. How did your family get here?
My family came here LEGALLY! That's the difference!
Some of these comments are just evil.
Totally agree with you
Those poor people, may god help them
Those of you who don't recognize how desperate people would have to be to flee their own country to seek work and a better life should count your blessings. You may one day soon be trying to flee the U.S. from a fascist dictator. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
@moondriven Where are you going to flee to?
Whether or not it's legal is besides the point. They are human beings. They are also desperate enough to take such a risk. That tells you of the struggles they are facing. People in the U.S. have lost their compassion. How did your family get here?
My family came here LEGALLY! That's the difference!
Some of these comments are just evil.
Totally agree with you
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Those poor people, may god help them
Those of you who don't recognize how desperate people would have to be to flee their own country to seek work and a better life should count your blessings. You may one day soon be trying to flee the U.S. from a fascist dictator. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
@moondriven Where are you going to flee to?
Whether or not it's legal is besides the point. They are human beings. They are also desperate enough to take such a risk. That tells you of the struggles they are facing. People in the U.S. have lost their compassion. How did your family get here?
My family came here LEGALLY! That's the difference!
Some of these comments are just evil.
Totally agree with you