Coast Guard Rescues 34 Migrants from Sinking Boat 8 Miles from Florida Shore

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 34 migrants from a sinking boat about 8 miles south of Key Colony Beach, Florida, on Friday. The migrants received food, water, and medical assistance aboard a Coast Guard cutter. None of them were injured, and all passengers from the sinking vessel were safely rescued, as reported by the Coast Guard on X.

Key Colony Beach resident and Main Attraction Sportfishing Charters Capt. Marty Lewis spotted the sinking ship and immediately alerted the Coast Guard. When Capt. Lewis spotted the boat and its passengers, the vessel was on the verge of sinking.

“I mean, 90% of the boat was submerged. At least they all stayed on the boat and hung on to what was left,” Capt. Lewis told WPLG-TV.

Katie Lewis, his wife, mentioned that the weather conditions might have prompted the migrants to undertake their journey. “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 nationalities of the rescued individuals are determined, they will be deported, as per the Coast Guard statement on X.