Sailboats berthing aat a bay in Miami, Florida, the United States
MIAMI (Florida, US), Sept 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for 23 migrants whose vessel sank off the coast of Florida amid Hurricane Ian, an official said on Wednesday afternoon.
Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami sector, tweeted that agents had responded to a migrant landing in Stock Island, Florida’s Monroe County.
Slosar said that four “Cuban migrants swam to shore after their vessel sank due to inclement weather” and that a search and rescue operation is underway for 23 individuals believed to have been on the same boat.
The U.S. Coast Guard began a search and rescue mission for an additional 23 people, Slosar said.
Crews have so far rescued three people in the water about 2 miles south of Boca Chica, the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast said.
“They were brought to the local hospital for symptoms of exhaustion and dehydration. Air crews are still searching,” the Coast Guard said in an update on Twitter.
The rescue efforts are underway amid dangerous weather conditions from Hurricane Ian. The storm made landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday afternoon as a major Category 4 hurricane, bringing with it powerful winds and life-threatening storm surge.
The rescue mission comes a day after seven migrants from Cuba were taken into custody after making landfall at Pompano Beach, north of Fort Lauderdale, according to Slosar.
“Do not risk your life by attempting this journey at sea,” he said on Twitter. “Storm surge along with King tide can create treacherous sea conditions even after a storm passes.” — NNN-XINHUA
