Border Patrol agents said 19 Cuban immigrants are missing after their boat capsized off the coast of Miami on Wednesday as Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of up to 155 miles per hour, made landfall on the west coast of Florida.
Four Cuban migrants swam to shore after their vessel sank, Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar said. Local media said those four were hospitalized.
"U.S. Border Patrol agents along with support from @mcsonews responded to a migrant landing in Stock Island #Florida," Slosar tweeted.
"4 Cuban migrants swam to shore after their vessel sank due to inclement weather. @USCGSoutheast initiated a #SAR operation to search for 23 individuals."
Later, the U.S. Coast Guard tweeted that crews rescued three more people in the water "about 2 miles south of Boca Chica. They were brought to the local hospital for symptoms of exhaustion and dehydration. Air crews are still searching."
Slosar said his sector reported that last week nearly 120 Cuban migrants had arrived by boat; 6,000-plus migrants have been repatriated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
On Tuesday, seven migrants from Cuba made landfall in Pompano Beach. They were taken into custody.
"Do not risk your life by attempting this journey at sea," Slosar warned. "Storm surge along with king tide can create treacherous sea conditions even after a storm passes."
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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