SAN DIEGO, CA — Sixteen people were rescued and taken to hospitals Friday as the Coast Guard continued searching waters about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico, following a report of 27 people in the water, the agency said.
Coast Guard Sector San Diego received a radio distress call about 1 a.m. reporting a vessel taking on water. Search crews later found vessel debris in the area.
The 16 people rescued were transported to Coast Guard Sector San Diego, where emergency medical personnel transferred them to local hospitals for further evaluation. Two were confirmed to be Mexican nationals, the Coast Guard said.
Sector San Diego is coordinating the search, with crews from Coast Guard air stations in Ventura and Sacramento and the cutter Active. The USS Kingsville and a Navy helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 are also assisting.
Capt. Robert Tucker, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Diego, said the vessel carried a large number of people and was traveling a route commonly used in illegal maritime smuggling operations.
"This case highlights the extreme dangers of taking to the sea," Tucker said.
The search remained underway Friday.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
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