Five found dead after human smuggling boat capsizes off Florida, search suspended
Rescue crews have discovered five bodies in their search for the 39 missing people believed to be aboard a human-smuggling boat that capsized off the Florida coast earlier this week.
A massive search effort was launched early Tuesday, after sailors on a passing ship spotted a man clinging to the side of the tipped vessel, some 40 miles east of Florida’s Fort Pierce Inlet. He was suffering from dehydration as well as sun exposure and is so far the only survivor of the incident, Coast Guard Capt. Jo-Ann Burdian told reporters.
During a press conference, Burdian confirmed officials have decided to suspend the search after crews discovered four more bodies on Thursday. Officials said one body was also found on Wednesday.
“The decision to suspend is really a very, very complicated one,” Burdian said. “We don’t think it’s likely that anyone else has survived.”
Crews had been scouring the waters between Fort Pierce Inlet and Bimini in the Bahamas with both boats and aircrafts. They are about 140 miles apart.
Burdian noted the lone survivor remained hospitalized and in stable condition. He told investigators the 25-foot boat encounter severe weather shortly after setting sail Saturday night from Bimini.
The survivor also told the Coast Guard no one on board the vessel had been wearing life jackets. His name and the name of those who rescued him have not yet been released.
Homeland Security has also launched an investigation into the human smuggling case.
“The goal of this investigation is to identify, arrest, and prosecute any criminal or criminal organization that organized, facilitated, or profited from this doomed venture,” said Special Agent Anthony Salisbury.
