Coast Guard Searches After 27 Reported in Water Off Ensenada

The U.S. Coast Guard was searching the Pacific Ocean west of Ensenada on October 16 after receiving reports that 27 people were in the water, following a distress call involving a boat taking on water. At least 16 people had been rescued, and the search was active, according to Coast Guard updates and an agency official. The reported location was about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico. Coast Guard crews responded at about 1 a.m. Pacific time, and rescued people were taken to hospitals in San Diego, Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey said. The Coast Guard had not confirmed a final count of people involved. Sappey said one rescued person reported that as many as 27 people had been aboard a boat. He also said no vessel had been found and that the reason people were in the water was unclear. The Coast Guard was continuing its search for others reported in the water. San Diego officials described the vessel as a human-smuggling boat. José Ysea, a city spokesperson, characterized it that way, while the Coast Guard did not confirm a smuggling connection. The circumstances of the incident and the vessel’s purpose had not been established in the information available on October...