Rescuers were searching the warm waters of the Gulf of California for American tourists whose boat capsized during a flash storm on Sunday.
At least one American was confirmed dead in the accident before dawn that spilled dozens of tourists and crew members into the calm waters of the Gulf near Tijuana, Mexico.
“By early Monday, 19 of the tourists and all 16 crew members had been picked up by the navy or other fishing boats after clinging to coolers, rescue rings and life vests for more than 16 hours,” reported the AP.
But seven other tourists were missing.
The search area is being extended.
With warm weather and tepid water temperatures, the missing tourists might have survived, said Mexican Navy Capt. Benjamin Pineda Gomez.
The US Coast Guard is helping in the search.
The boat capsized less than two miles (three kilometers) from shore, but the navy extended its search 60 miles (100 kilometers) deeper into the gulf after searching the area by helicopter and airplane and finding nothing, authorities said.
One of the missing men was scheduled to be married next month, according to his fiancé.
By David Wilkening
