Coast Guard plans to end search for survivors of capsized boat off Florida
A U.S. Coast Guard ship leaving its base in Miami Beach, Fla., in July. Photo: AP/Marta Lavandier
The Coast Guard said Thursday that it had recovered four more bodies in its search for dozens of people whose boat capsized off Florida's coast after traveling from the Bahamas.
The big picture: The maritime security agency said that it plans to suspend its search for survivors later Thursday if it doesn't receive new information. The Coast Guard has found a total of 5 bodies. More than 30 people remain missing.
What they're saying: "We don’t think it is likely that anyone else has survived," Coast Guard Capt. Jo-Ann Burdian said at a news conference. "The victims, in this case, have been in the water since Saturday evening."
- "Unfortunately, we've come to the most difficult time in any search and rescue case," she continued. "That is the point at which we decide when to cease actively searching."
The big picture: A "good Samaritan" contacted the Coast Guard Tuesday to say they "rescued a man clinging to a capsized vessel," per a tweet from the agency, which noted it was dealing with "a suspected human smuggling venture."
- The survivor reported he left Bimini, Bahamas, with 39 other people Saturday night and encountered severe weather, causing the vessel to capsize Sunday morning," per a Coast Guard statement issued Tuesday night
- No one on the 25-foot boat was wearing a life jacket, according to the survivor.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.