(EFE).- A Royal Caribbean cruise ship heading to the Bahamas rescued a group of 17 Cubans who were stranded at sea aboard a fragile vessel, the US firm reported.
The cruise Liberty of the Seas “A small drifting boat in need of help was found on Saturday,” the Miami, Florida-based firm said in a statement, adding that the crew “immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 17 people on board”.
Following the rescue, the crew provided medical attention to the rafters before turning them over to the US Coast Guard, Royal Caribbean added.
Following the rescue, the crew provided medical attention to the rafters before turning them over to the US Coast Guard, Royal Caribbean added.
The group said they had been at sea for “weeks,” cruise passenger and rescue witness Josh Levine told local channel WPTV.
Earlier this month, the crews of two tourist cruises that covered routes in the Caribbean rescued 24 immigrants who were aboard fragile boats and tried to reach the coast of Florida.
Florida has registered in recent weeks a notorious increase in the arrival of immigrants, mostly from Cuba and Haiti, as well as interceptions of vessels off its coasts.
On Friday, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) indicated that since August of last year more than 5,200 migrants arrived in 306 landings in this state, with a total of 8,400 undocumented immigrants who were intercepted at sea repatriated.
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