16 immigrants dropped off boat near California coast and some are missing, police say

Three immigrants are missing on Friday after 16 people were dropped from a panga smuggling boat off the coast of Del Mar, California.

Thirteen people were rescued and deputies from San Diego County Sheriff’s Department helped people get to shore, according to a Twitter post from the department.

Volunteers are helping divers with an underwater search, for the three who are missing, according to the post.

All of the immigrants are from Mexico and were treated for mild hypothermia from the cold water, Mike Stein, fire chief for Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach told The San Diego Union-Tribune.

There were 16 to 18 people onboard, the people who were rescued told authorities, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Three people still aren’t accounted for and authorities aren’t sure if they’re still in the ocean or if they made it to shore, Fox5 reported.

Stein said it was a “dump and run,” operation in which people are unloaded from the boat and try to swim to shore, the outlet reported.

This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 4:57 PM with the headline "16 immigrants dropped off boat near California coast and some are missing, police say."