The US Coast Guard has suspended the search for six missing persons on Florida’s Atlantic coast, although it continues to search for another missing group in the area.
The Southeast Coast Guard scoured the coast of Fort Pierce after a Jamaican said his 18-foot ship capsized on Wednesday 23 miles offshore.
The man reported that six other people were on board at the time, prompting the Coast Guard to launch several vehicles to search the waters between Florida and the Bahamas.
After searching the waters for 140 hours, covering more than 10,000 miles, the Coast Guard announced late on Sunday that it had suspended the search and rescue operation.
COAST GUARD CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR 6 DISAPPEARED BOATS ON THE FLORIDA COAST
“The decision to suspend a search and rescue case is never something we take seriously,” said Capt. JoAnn Burdian, commander of the Miami Coast Guard Sector. “We offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the people involved during this difficult time.”
However, the search for a second group continues; the Coast Guard said on Friday it was conducting a search and rescue operation for 10 missing people in Key West.
The group left Havana, Cuba, on February 7, aboard a 6-foot “makeshift ship”.
The Coast Guard tweeted Monday morning that the operation was continuing.
The Coast Guard told Fox News that all updates will be posted to the Coast Guard’s Twitter account.
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The Coast Guard requested that any additional information be communicated to the command center at 305-535-4300.