Authorities in Mexico say one person is dead and at least six others are missing after a tourist boat capsized and sank during a storm off the country's Baja California peninsula.

Officials say the incident happened early Sunday, hours after the 35-meter vessel, the Erik, left the port of San Felipe for a fishing trip on the Sea of Cortez. Forty-four people, including 27 Americans, were aboard the vessel when it capsized.

Mexican navy helicopters and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter are involved in the search for the missing persons.

A U.S. Coast Guard official told reporters that some of the survivors swam to shore to seek help.