Three people are missing and two others were badly burned after a Mexican fishing boat caught fire 30 miles south of Pt. Loma on Saturday night.
Crew members aboard Time Machine, a charter fishing boat out of San Diego’s Harbor Island, spotted the Mexican boat on fire at about 9:35 p.m. off Rosarito Beach.
They radioed the U.S. Coast Guard to report they were rescuing multiple people in the water, according to a spokesman for Coast Guard Station San Diego.
The Cutter Haddock, a 45-foot response boat, and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter were dispatched assist the charter fishing boat, officials said.
The Mexican Navy also deployed two boats to assist. The nearest Mexican Navy port is at Ensenada, about 45 miles further southeast.
The crew aboard Time Machine pulled 15 people from the water, including two who needed urgent medical attention, according to the Coast Guard. The survivors reported three people were still missing.
Two victims needed urgent medical care and were taken by helicopter to San Diego, then transferred by ambulance to hospitals. The remaining 13 survivors were taken by boat to Ensenada.
Mexican officials led the search effort Sunday for the three still-missing people Sunday, with U.S. Coast Guard assistance.
Updated at 1:35 p.m., Oct. 21, 2018
— From Staff and Wire Reports