Boat Capsizes Off Baja California Coast: 11 Missing, Survivors Attacked by Sharks
A boat has capsized off the Baja California coast, triggering an active search-and-rescue operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard - and it's gotten grim fast. Sixteen people have been pulled from the Pacific Ocean so far, but 11 others are still missing, according to early reports. Survivors in the water were attacked by sharks while awaiting rescue.
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The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the 16 rescues, per the New York Times. Search operations are continuing as crews work to locate the missing. The full circumstances of the capsizing - including what caused it and how many people were originally aboard - have not been confirmed in early reports.
This story is developing. Details including the number of victims, conditions of the rescued, and the extent of any injuries may change as new information comes in.
What We Know Right Now
Sixteen survivors have been rescued from the Pacific Ocean off Mexico's Baja California coast, the U.S. Coast Guard says. Eleven people remain unaccounted for. At least some of those who survived the capsize faced shark attacks while in the water, according to multiple early reports. The nature and severity of those injuries have not been confirmed.
See also: ENDANGERED MISSING ADVISORY ISSUED FOR AT-RISK MAN IN ANTIOCH · AMBER ALERT ISSUED FOR MISSING 10-YEAR-OLD BOY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California Connection
The U.S. Coast Guard's involvement puts this squarely on California's radar. Coast Guard assets regularly operate up and down the Pacific coast across the California-Mexico border region, and rescues off Baja frequently draw on Southern California-based crews and resources. Authorities haven't released details yet on the vessel type, who was aboard, or where it was headed.
What to Watch For
Search crews are still out there. The big outstanding questions: whether the 11 missing will be found, the condition of those already rescued, and what sent the boat down in the first place. Check back - CALWIRE will update this story as new information comes in.