Two Cuban migrants dead — 10 others missing — after boat flips over off Key West
Two people from Cuba attempting to migrate to the United States died and 10 others are missing in the ocean after the boat in which they were passengers overturned Wednesday night.
A Coast Guard Cutter on patrol, the Resolute, spotted eight people from the capsized vessel in the water and rescued them about 1 p.m. Thursday, the agency said. A Coast Guard patrol boat crew recovered two bodies.
The survivors told their rescuers they left Puerto de Mariel, Cuba, on Sunday, and their boat subsequently capsized Wednesday night on the way to Florida, according to the Coast Guard. The survivors also noted that 10 others were on board, but they have not been seen since.
Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Jose Hernandez said he did not have a description of the type of vessel that went down.
“Since it capsized, we did not have any visuals on the boat,” he said.
Chief Seth Haynes, command center supervisor of the Coast Guard in Key West, is asking boaters in the area to be on the lookout for the missing migrants. Anyone with information about the missing people is asked to call Sector Key West at 305-292-8727.
The Coast Guard said in a statement Friday morning that the search would continue through the day.
The search party includes two Coast Guard cutters, a Coast Guard patrol boat, two Coast Guard and one U.S. Navy helicopter in addition to members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published May 27, 2021 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Two Cuban migrants dead — 10 others missing — after boat flips over off Key West."
