Cozumel, Q.R. — The search continues for two men who have been reported lost at sea after leaving Playa del Carmen for Cozumel. The pair went missing after departing the mainland of Playa del Carmen for the island of Cozumel on a jet ski.
The incident happened over the long weekend when the two adult men boarded a jet ski Sunday afternoon for Cozumel. They were reported missing Sunday evening when they failed to check in at their destination.
On Tuesday, Tourist Police met with Francisco Lechuga Prieto, head of the Quintana Roo State Search Commission to coordinate continued search efforts to locate the two missing men.
An inter-agency task force was formed, conducting a search at sea and one on land.
At sea, personnel from the Secretariat of the Navy, the Search Commission and Civil Protection deployed personal watercraft, small vessels, and a Navy boat.
Supported by drones specialized for maritime flight, the team scoured the coastline stretching from Playa Barracuda to the Isla de la Pasión area.
On land, a second team made up of personnel from the Navy, the Secretariat of National Defense, the Tourist Police, Public Security, and Civil Protection, advanced toward the Mezcalitos area heading for the Punta Molas lighthouse.
Due to the challenging terrain, Public Security utilized an off-road vehicle and a patrol unit equipped with satellite internet to ensure communication in an area with no cellular or radio signal.
During this leg of the operation, drones were deployed and foot patrols were conducted along the coast.
After approximately 10 hours of continuous operations, which concluded around 4:00 p.m., preliminary results were negative.
Later in the afternoon, the teams resumed their sea and land searches with the goal of covering remaining areas and locating the missing individuals.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to the public and continue to work in a coordinated manner to expedite the search, urging citizens to stay informed through official channels.
The pair set out for the island of Cozumel on a single jet ski Sunday afternoon. Maritime authorities were notified they were missing at 5:46 p.m. Sunday evening.
According to a notice issued by the Cozumel Port Authority to the nautical sector, around 5:46 p.m. the disappearance of Eduardo Ceseña and Francisco Huerta Martínez was reported , who were on board a jet ski heading towards the island.
The report states that both people likely fell into the sea in the vicinity of coordinates 20° 33′ 56” north latitude and 86° 56′ 31” west longitude, without any information about their whereabouts at that time.
In response to the emergency, the Port Authority requested the support of vessels traveling between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel to remain vigilant. There are reports that a failure in the jet ski’s electrical system caused the vessel to stall along the way.
Search efforts continue.
