Coast Guard rescues 16 people and searches for more after mayday call off Mexico's Baja coast

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 16 people from the Pacific Ocean off Mexico’s Baja California coast on Friday after receiving a mayday call reporting their boat was sinking, and searched for 11 more. The rescued were Mexican nationals, according to the Mexican consulate, though authorities said the boat’s origin, destination and purpose were unclear. The incident occurred about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Ensenada in an area frequented by smugglers transporting migrants to the U.S., as well as by fishing and leisure boats. A Coast Guard helicopter reached the scene about two hours after the mayday was sent around 1 a.m. One survivor was suspected to have been bitten by a shark, and two were reported in critical condition. Survivors were flown to San Diego for hospital evaluation, while searches across about 950 square nautical miles continued overnight.