(Trends Wide) — More than 100 people were rescued from an overloaded boat before it hit a shoal in the Florida Keys, according to the US Coast Guard.
The ship struck a shoal off Whale Harbor, the Southeast Coast Guard said in a tweet. “There are reports of people in the water and our land partners are on the scene,” the agency said. Whale Harbor is in Islamorada, in the Upper Florida Keys.
Rescue efforts are continuing for anyone who may be in the water.
The Coast Guard did not know how many migrants were on the overloaded boat or their nationality, telling Trends Wide they are dealing with difficult conditions.
Rescue operations began at 5 am Monday after a Good Samaritan reported the vessel in the early hours of the morning, according to the Coast Guard. (Credit: US Coast Guard)
Rescue teams have faced storm surge of 2 to 3 meters and winds of 40 kilometers per hour as they try to get passengers safely out, according to an earlier tweet from the agency.
Rescue operations began this morning when a Good Samaritan reported the boat to Key West lifeguards at 5 am Monday, the Coast Guard said in a tweet.
On Sunday, the Coast Guard said at least five people were dead after a homemade boat capsized near Little Torch Key in Florida. Nine people were rescued from the boat, according to the agency.
