Mexico: Missing Boaters Could Still Be Alive

Mexican rescuers continued to scour the Gulf of California for seven US tourists whose fishing boat capsized two days ago, saying they were extending their search because the men could still be alive in the warm, calm waters. One American has been confirmed dead in the accident, which came after a sudden storm upended the boat before dawn Sunday, spilling dozens of tourists and crew members into the water.

Most of the 27 men on the organized fishing excursion were from Northern California and had made the trip before. By early yesterday, 19 of the tourists and all 16 crew members had been picked up by the navy or other fishing boats after clinging to coolers, rescue rings, and life vests for more than 16 hours. The 115-foot vessel, the Erik, sank about 60 miles south of the port of San Felipe around 2:30am local time Sunday, the second day of a weeklong fishing trip the group had organized for several years each Independence Day holiday. (More Sea of Cortez stories.)