US Coast Guard rescues at least 16 and is searching for more in the water off Mexico's Baja Coast

LOS ANGELES (AP) — At least 16 people seen floating in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico’s Baja California coast were rescued in the predawn hours Friday, and authorities were searching for several others in an area frequented by smugglers transporting migrants by boat to the U.S.Those rescued were being taken to San Diego hospitals. One person was being treated for a suspected shark bite.The Coast Guard responded to a report of a vessel in distress at around 1 a.m., authorities said.People were found floating in the water about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Ensenada, said Petty Officer Chris Sappey. Several smuggling boats have capsized over the years in fatal accidents in the area.“There was no sight of a vessel in the water, just straight people in the water,” Sappey said.One person rescued said as many as 27 people had been on board a boat, Sappey said. It was unclear how the people ended up in the water, and Sappey had no further details on what they were doing.Three of the people