The US Coast Guard rescued 16 people after a boat capsized off the coast of Baja, Mexico

It is believed that 11 people are still missing and rescue operations are underway.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that it has rescued 16 people from the Pacific Ocean after a boat capsized off the coast of Baja, Mexico.

The Coast Guard said Friday it responded to a Mayday call about a boat sinking. The search continues for the 11 people believed to be still missing.

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The bottom of the boat went down about 225 km (140 mi) west of Ensenada, Mexico.

Coast Guard Lt. Santiago Tamborini said a rescue helicopter arrived about two hours after someone on the boat sent a Mayday call at about 1 a.m. (0800 GMT) on Friday.

It took about 90 minutes for Coast Guard crews, including a rescue swimmer, to pull the 16 people from the water, Tamborini said.

According to the Mexican consulate, the rescued people were Mexican nationals.

One survivor was treated for a suspected shark bite and two were in critical condition, officials said.

The survivors were airlifted to hospitals in San Diego, California. The Mexican consulate in San Diego said it had offered consular assistance.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy continue to search the area with two helicopters, a fixed-wing aircraft, a cutter and a Navy combat ship.

The boat sank in an area of smugglers who transport immigrants to America. It is also popular with fishing and pleasure boats.

Details about the boat's origin, destination, and what it was doing are unclear. The Coast Guard said no ship was found, only debris, and it was unclear what type of boat was involved.

"Boats in that area could be for fishing, leisure, personal recreation. We just don't know what they were doing there. We all know it's a suspected smuggling route," Tamburini said.