The U.S. Coast Guard saved 34 migrants from a sinking vessel about 8 miles south of Key Colony Beach, Florida, Friday.
The migrants were provided with food, water, and medical aid aboard a Coast Guard cutter. None of the people rescued suffered injuries, and all of the sinking vessel’s passengers were accounted for, the Coast Guard said in a post on X.
Key Colony Beach resident and Main Attraction Sportfishing Charters Capt. Marty Lewis spotted the sinking ship and called the Coast Guard. The boat and the people aboard were nearly sunk by the time Capt. Lewis spotted them.
“At least they all stayed on the boat and hung on to what was left. I mean, 90% of the boat was submerged,” Capt. Lewis told WPLG-TV.
His wife, Katie Lewis, said the weather may have encouraged the migrants to attempt their voyage.
“I guess we’re kind of numb to this, only because we’ve seen it so many times. To be honest, it hasn’t happened in a long time, but we’ve also had calmer weather lately, so they saw their window, I’m sure,” Ms. Lewis told the local Keys Weekly newspaper.
Once the identities and nationalities of the rescued people are determined, they will be deported, the Coast Guard said on X.
