Isla Mujeres, Q.R. — Two boat loads of foreigners were located Thursday off the coast of Isla Mujeres. The two boats were seen approximately four nautical miles (7 kilometers) north of the coast.
The Secretary of the Navy reported the locating and subsequent rescue of those on board the boats took place Thursday morning. A total of 51 foreigners were found between the two makeshift vessels.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, the Secretaría de Marina reported that they, through the Mexican Navy acting as Coast Guard from the Ninth Naval Region, rescued 51 foreigners who were aboard two smaller artisanal vessels off the coast of the state of Quintana Roo.
“This action was carried out after receiving an emergency call in the Command and Control Room of the Ninth Naval Region reporting two smaller vessels with a total of 51 crew members on board, which were approximately four nautical miles away (7 kilometers) north of Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo.
“Due to the above and with the objective of safeguarding human life at sea, the departure of an Interceptor Patrol from the Ninth Naval Region and two Defender-type vessels from the Naval Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Station (ENSAR) of Isla Mujeres was ordered in order to go to the designated area to rescue the crew members.
“The rescued people were treated by Naval Health personnel for their medical examination and were found to be stable and in good health. They were transferred to the Advanced Naval Station of Puerto Juárez, where they were handed over to the authorities of the National Migration Institute (INM) to carry out the corresponding legal procedures,” they said.
