Costa Maya, Q.R. — Mahahual rescue teams continue to search for two people who were on board a boat that capsized Saturday afternoon. Strong winds are being blamed after the private boat carrying five men capsized in Costa Maya waters.
The fishermen left Calderitas Saturday afternoon and capsized near the reef off the coast of Xcalak. Three of the fishermen were found during a Navy search. The other two are still missing.
The captain of another vessel made the emergency report to the Mahahual port authority around 1:00 p.m. after seeing the overturned boat. Captain Marcelo “C” was aboard his vessel Mi Cielo when he came upon Estefani, the capsized fishing boat.
A search for those on board Estefani was launched around 1:30 p.m. and by 2:30, three men were found alive. Skipper José Manuel Poot May from Calderitas along with Carlos Alberto Yam Ku and Dionicio Ricardo Aragón Esquivel, both from Chetumal, were found alive.
Two others remain missing. The Navy search and rescue vessel returned at 3:00 p.m. after being unable to locate the other two fishermen. Missing at sea is 42-year-old Daniel Chan Campos and 47-year-old Manuel Candelario Buenfil.
Choppy seas with the entrance of another cold front has had an effect on search efforts. As of Sunday night, the two men remained missing.
