Coast Guard suspends search for 10 missing Cuban migrants near Key West

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast Contact: 7th District Public Affairs Office: 305-415-6683 After Hours: 786-367-7649 7th District online newsroom

Coast Guard suspends search for 10 missing Cuban migrants near Key West

MIAMI — The Coast Guard suspended the search for 10 missing Cuban migrants approximately 16 miles south of Key West, Saturday, at 8 p.m., pending the development of new information.

Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Customs and Border Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission air and surface asset personnel conducted multiple search patterns for more than 123 hours. These searches covered approximately 8,864 square miles, which is almost the size of New Hampshire.

While on routine patrol, the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute crew spotted multiple people in the water and alerted Sector Key West watchstanders, Thursday, at approximately 1 p.m. The eight survivors reported they left Puerto de Mariel, Cuba, Sunday, and capsized sometime Wednesday evening and that there were still 10 people missing in the water. Two people were recovered deceased.

"The Coast Guard, partner Department of Defense and local agency crews searched continuously the past three days to locate the missing 10 people," said Capt. Adam Chamie, Commander of Sector Key West. "The decision to suspend a search is always difficult and is made after careful consideration of all the facts. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy."

Coast Guard and partner agencies assets involved in the search include:
Coast Guard Station Key West 45-foot RB–M
Coast Guard Cutter Resolute
Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore
Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and HC-130 Hercules aircraft
Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew
A Naval Air Station Key West H-60 helicopter
Customs and Border Protection Air Marine Operation MH-60
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission surface assets
Patrick Air Force Base C-130

To see pictures and video of the search, click here.
To read the initial news release, click here.

If you have any information on this case, please reach out to the Sector Key West Command Center at 305-292-8727.

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-USCG-