Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Miami: 4 Women Killed

Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Miami: 4 Women Killed
Tara MacIsaac
10/16/2013
Updated:
10/16/2013

Migrants from Haiti and Jamaica were rescued Wednesday morning when their boat capsized off the coast of Miami, Fla., reports the Miami Herald

The Coast Guard rescued 10 people, but four were killed. When the Coast Guard arrived, nine were clinging to the boat. Those nine were Jamaican and Haitian nationals, but the nationality of the other passengers is not yet known. Authorities are investigating whether the boat was part of a human smuggling operation.

Some were taken to the Coast Guard station for treatment, others are in custody. Rescue workers are no longer searching. 

Migrants from Haiti, Cuba and other Caribbean countries routinely attempt to illegally enter the U.S. by reaching Florida’s coast in overloaded or unseaworthy vessels.

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the Coast Guard picked up 508 Haitians and 1,357 Cubans at sea. Since the new fiscal year began Oct. 1, the Coast Guard has reported picking up 93 Haitians and 117 Cubans.

On Oct. 13, 30 people and a dog were rescued in a another capsized boat near the Miami Sea Aquarium. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.