Search crews with the U.S. Coast Guard found five dead bodies after searching for a group of migrants who went missing after their homemade sea vessel capsized off the coast of Florida, prompting a Disney cruise ship to halt its voyage in the area and assist in rescue efforts.
Nine people were ultimately rescued, according to ABC News.
Coast Guard Saves Nine Migrants, Finds Five Dead After Makeshift Boat Capsized On The Coast Of Florida
The group of migrants were traveling in the makeshift boat when it capsized 50 miles off the coast of Little Torch Key, Florida, authorities said. Winds were 30 miles per hour on Saturday and the seas were 6 to 8 feet in the swell.
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The Coast Guard claimed that the nine people they rescued were all wearing life preserving jackets, while four others died immediately upon capsizing. Another reportedly died shortly after the incident.
“For individuals residing in the US seeking information on a family member possibly intercepted by the Coast Guard, please contact your local government representative,” the Coast Guard said.
#Breaking @USCG crews are searching for 5 people, about 50 mi. off Little Torch Key, after a group took to the sea on a homemade vessel that capsized during a failed migration venture. 9 people were rescued, 1 person recovered deceased, Sat… pic.twitter.com/UlYspfz4el
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) November 20, 2022
The Coast Guard added the hashtag #DontTakeToTheSea and tagged the account for the U.S. Embassy in Cuba in their tweet.
None of the victims have been publicly identified as of Monday afternoon.
Disney’s Cruise Ship Fantasy Brought To Halt Amidst Search, Aids In Rescue Efforts
Meanwhile, the Disney Cruise Line’s Fantasy was brought to a halt on Sunday after an incident at sea left four people dead, according to reports, and reportedly helped contribute to search-and-rescue efforts.
“While the Disney Cruise Line’s fleet of ships is renowned for its world-class service and Disney experience, like the theme parks, there are times when the real world seeps into that Mickey Mouse magic,” the Disney-centric website Inside The Magic writes.
“Unfortunately, in a tragic incident in the ocean south of Florida, a migration vessel capsized and the Disney Fantasy stopped to aid the search for the victims,” the statement went on to read.
Disney Fantasy has come to a full stop and coast guard is circling planes overhead. Word on the street is someone or something is in the water of concern. #DisneyCruise #DisneyFantasy #DisneyCruiseLine pic.twitter.com/bTQ5nCW2Bt
— Theme Park Express (@ThemeParkExpres) November 20, 2022
Video uploaded to Twitter showed as Coast Guard planes circled the area as they searched for the missing migrants.
News Comes Months After 17 Migrants – Including A Baby – Died After Their Boat Capsized In The Bahamas
In July, The Shade Room had previously reported at least 17 people have died, including a baby, after a boat capsized in the Bahamas. Authorities said the boat was likely transporting Haitian migrants during a suspected “human smuggling” operation bound for the United States.
An investigation into the incident is still underway, but authorities said during a press conference that between 50 and 60 people were in the boat when it capsized approximately 7 miles off the coast of New Providence island around midnight on Sunday.
The boat full of hopeful migrants was suspected to be bound for Florida.
Officials reportedly recovered the bodies of 16 females, including a child believed to be 4 or 5 years old, and one male. Authorities rescued 25 other people from the water. Between eight to 12 people were still believed to still be missing at the time of the report.
