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Four More Bodies Found In Search For Missing Boaters Off Florida Coast

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Four more bodies have been found in the search for 38 people who went missing after their boat capsized on a dangerous trip to Florida, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

As of Thursday, there have been five bodies found and only one survivor.

The Coast Guard said it would call off its active search for survivors at sunset if it doesn't receive any new information.

"We don't think it is likely that anyone else has survived," said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Jo-Ann Burdian, Sector Miami Commander.

On Wednesday morning, the Coast Guard said they had spotted a debris field with items that appear to have belonged to the missing boaters and they're going to be searching in that area. So far they have searched an area the size of New Jersey.

"The longer they remain in the water, without food, without water, exposed to the marine environment, the sun, the sea conditions, every moment that passes, it becomes much more dire and unlikely that anyone would survive in those conditions," said Burdian

The U.S. Navy aircraft and other rescue crews are assisting in the search.

Capsized Boat-Florida
Coast Guard Cutter Ibis' crew searching for people missing from a capsized boat off the coast of Florida, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

So far, the sole survivor of the boat was a man found clinging to the overturned hull of a 25-foot vessel about 45 miles east of Fort Pierce Inlet on Tuesday morning. The overturned boat was about 100 miles north of where it capsized.

The was spotted by a good Samaritan.

"That good Samaritan, who's a commercial tug and barge, stopped and rescued a person off of the hull of that vessel," said Burdian.

The name of the ship that rescued the survivor is 'Signet Intruder'. It is part of the Signet Maritime Corporation.

The man told the Coast Guard he along with 39 others left Bimini on Saturday evening and ran into bad weather causing their boat to capsize Sunday morning. He said he was the only one wearing a life jacket.

"In cases like this, small vessels, overloaded, inexperienced operators, in bad weather is incredibly dangerous," said Burdian.

The Coast Guard believes the trip was part of a human smuggling operation.

"Whoever was on the boat, the most important thing is to find them as quickly as possible," said Burdian.

The man who was rescued has been interviewed by the Department of Homeland Security.

Migrants have long used the islands of the Bahamas as a steppingstone to reach Florida and the United States. But the vessels are often dangerously overloaded and prone to capsizing. There have been thousands of deaths over the years. 0" height="295" class="size-full wp-image-814401" /> Coast Guard Cutter Ibis' crew searching for people missing from a capsized boat off the coast of Florida, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)[/caption]

So far, the sole survivor of the boat was a man found clinging to the overturned hull of a 25-foot vessel about 45 miles east of Fort Pierce Inlet on Tuesday morning. He was spotted by a good Samaritan.

"That good Samaritan, who's a commercial tug and barge, stopped and rescued a person off of the hull of that vessel," said Burdian.

The name of the ship that rescued the survivor is 'Signet Intruder'. It is part of the Signet Maritime Corporation.

The man told the Coast Guard he along with 39 others left Bimini on Saturday evening and ran into bad weather causing their boat to capsize Sunday morning. He said he was the only one wearing a life jacket.

"In cases like this, small vessels, overloaded, inexperienced operators, in bad weather is incredibly dangerous," said Burdian.

The Coast Guard believes the trip was part of a human smuggling operation.

"Whoever was on the boat, the most important thing is to find them as quickly as possible," said Burdian.

The man who was rescued has been interviewed by the Department of Homeland Security.

Migrants have long used the islands of the Bahamas as a steppingstone to reach Florida and the United States. But the vessels are often dangerously overloaded and prone to capsizing. There have been thousands of deaths over the years.

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