MIAMI, United States. – Official media of the Cuban regime confirmed This Friday the shipwreck of a rudimentary boat occurred on Tuesday, January 24 north of Cayo Cruz del Padre, Cárdenas, Matanzas.
According to the note published by TV Yumurí, the survivors declared that the incident was due to strong waves.
The note also indicates that two naval means of Border Guard Troops went to the scene after the call for help from the migrants and were able to rescue 11 people.
After the incident, five deaths were reported, including a 19-year-old girl; while 12 people remain missing.
“Investigations into the unfortunate event and search actions at sea continue,” specified TV Yumurí.
“All those involved in the incident reside in Cárdenas and left the country illegally on January 23 through Torrontela, a point on the Cárdenas coast, with the purpose of reaching United States territory, exposing themselves to a risky journey,” adds the official medium.
In advance, TV Yumuri had reported that “The survivors maintained communication with the relatives, which allowed the activation of the emergency and rescue system for people. A group of them were transferred for their medical attention to the Comandante Faustino Pérez Hernández Provincial Hospital.”
That report also indicates that a survivor of the shipwreck was treated at the Julio Aristegui Villamil territorial hospital, in Cárdenas, with symptoms of dehydration, and that after she recovered, she was discharged.
TV Yumurí adds that the Units of the Border Guard Troops remain in search of possible survivors.
The Missing Migrants Project of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed earlier this week that at least 69 Cubans they lost their lives at sea trying to leave the Island in 2022.
The main cause of death of migrants was drowning caused by bad weather conditions, which make navigation difficult and the use of precarious boats in poor condition or that are not suitable for navigation on the high seas.
