The United States Coast Guard (USCG) rescued more than 30 Cuban rafters whose boat began to sink near the coast of Florida on the morning of Friday, November 10.
According to the media Local 10 Newsthe rescue of the 34 migrants began after a good Samaritan alerted authorities about several people who were in the water clinging to a boat that was sinking near the Florida Keys.
An official statement from the USCG states that the boat was sinking about eight miles off Key Colony Beach, and that all passengers on this boat had been rescued alive.
After being loaded onto one of the authorities’ boats, the rafters received water and food, and were placed in custody while their immigration status is resolved.
“USCG crews rescued 34 immigrants from a sinking ship approximately 8 miles south of Key Colony Beach, Florida, following a report from a good Samaritan. “They were transferred to a Coast Guard vessel where they were provided with food, water and basic medical care before being repatriated,” the statement read.
#HappenedToday @USCG crews rescued 34 migrants from a sinking vessel approx. 8 miles S of #KeyColonyBeach, #Floridareported a good Sam. They were transferred to a Coast Guard cutter where they will be provided food, water & basic medical attention before being repatriated. pic.twitter.com/xTEOO8i08z
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) November 10, 2023
The local media shared a video in which you can see the moment when USCG agents rescued the rafters, while several of them struggled to stay on top of the rustic boat as it disappeared into the water.
WATCH: U.S. Coast Guard crews respond to rescue 34 migrants from a sinking boat off Key Colony Beach this morning. More info here:
(Video courtesy: Marty Lewis) pic.twitter.com/oiEoi0ENqN
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) November 10, 2023
One of the passengers on the boat who alerted the authorities indicated that they had initially thought that it was a drifting tree, but that, as they approached, they realized that it was a group of people.
This person described the scene as a group of shoulders and heads above the water, noting that at least 90% of the boat was already underwater.
While the USCG statement does not mention the nationality of the rafters, limiting itself to saying that this will be found out during the repatriation process, the local media stated that they were people from Cuba, and that the authorities would eventually return them to the Greater Antilles.
Although the journey to reach Florida by sea is very dangerous, the island’s citizens continue to take risks in the hope of finding a better quality of life. However, very few succeed, and the majority of those who manage to make landfall They are returned to Cuba anyway.