Miami Passport Office Closed Until Further Notice

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The U.S. State Department's Miami Passport Agency is closed indefinitely meaning travelers seeking a last-minute passport out of South Florida are out of luck.

The office, located in the Omni building on Biscayne Boulevard, has significant water damage from a burst pipe, according to the state department

According to its website, the Miami Passport Agency is "currently closed to the public until further notice and is unable to take appointments or process passports.

People showing up Monday to pick up their passports were turned away.

Some like Kat Olarte left in tears.

"I can't get to Colombia for my brother's funeral," she told CBS4. "They are telling me I have to fly to Atlanta or New Orleans to apply all over again"

The shutdown drastically affects passport applications throughout the region, whether or not they were filed at this office.

Passport processing in Florida, and other parts of the southeast, flow through the Miami office.

A Department of State spokesman said the department will work with those whose passport applications are pending to make sure they're processed.

The website also states, "If you were scheduled to pick up a passport, currently have a pending appointment or are in need of expedited passport services, call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 or 888-874-7793 (TTY/TTD).

On Monday, a flood remediation company could be seen setting up fans and other equipment to dry out the office space. But the State Department can give no timeframe when the Miami office will reopen.