Human smuggling boat carrying 350 Haitian migrants runs aground off Florida Keys, border patrol says
(Courtesy: US Border Patrol)
KEY LARGO, Fla. - An overloaded wooden boat carrying hundreds of Haitian migrants in a suspected human smuggling operation ran aground in shallow water in the Florida Keys, where 163 people jumped overboard and swam ashore.
The boat teeming with people listed sharply to its side near Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo on Sunday afternoon.
Many of the migrants were in need of medical attention, according to a tweet sent by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Agent Walter N. Slosar.
Approximately 350 Haitian migrants were on board the overloaded vessel, authorities said.
(Courtesy: US Coast Guard)
"All of their lives were at risk during this journey," Adam Hoffner, U.S. Border Patrol's Acting Division Chief of its Miami Sector told WSVN. "It’s most definitely a notable sized group of migrants, especially on that type of vessel, 356 migrants on board a vessel that was not seaworthy and very dangerous conditions with the weather and the high winds."
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The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies rushed to help the group of migrants, which included women and children.
"Multiple agencies responded quickly & worked closely to protect a lot of lives today." U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jason Neiman tweeted on Sunday night.
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It was not immediately know how many people were taken to hospitals. Border Patrol images at the scene showed a large group of Haitians draped in towels on the shore.
(Courtesy: US Border Patrol)
Border Patrol officials said human smuggling is suspected and an investigation is continuing.
The incident happened not far from where another boat carrying 176 Haitians was stopped in January.
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The Coast Guard said the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Biscayne National Park Service all responded to the scene.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.