BOYNTON BEACH, FL -- The Coast Guard says at least 25 people were recovered after their boat somehow sank 15 miles east of the Boynton Beach Inlet Wednesday afternoon.
Early Thursday morning, the Coast Guard revised the number of deaths downward to nine, with sixteen survivors.
They believe there could have been as many as 30 people onboard the vessel, that possibly came from the Bahamas carrying Haitian and Bahamian migrants.
Two Coast Guard vessels continued searching the waters early Thursday for more possible survivors and victims.
Due to the fast moving Gulf Stream today's search is centering between Vero Beach and Cape Canaveral.
The US Coast Guard says 11 survivors are currently being held on a cutter ship offshore. 5 others are in custody.
The search for survivors has covered 2,700 square miles. 9 people are confirmed dead.
The boat the victims were on is described as white, with a center console and two engines.
Good Samaritans spotted several people in the water just before 1:00pm Wednesday, pulled two people onto their boat, and called for help.
The Coast Guard and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit spent hours pulling other people from the water.
Sgt. Yvonne Cacioli helped bring two victims onto her vessel and tells NewsChannel 5, although they spoke little English, the victims were able to communicate, saying, "They were very grateful we were there to save them."
Those most seriously injured were taken to shore by helicopter while other injured victims came in by boat.
A family member says one of the injured women is pregnant and being treated at Saint Mary's Medical Center.
Coast Guard C.W.O. James Mullinax explains, "ICE has to process these folks and they have to talk to them. They have to investigate to try to find out - was this a smuggling operation and if so, can we gather some information about who might be responsible?"
Investigators are working through language barriers with the victims to figure out how so many of them ended up stranded at sea.
Mullinax explains that one victim, "Didn't elaborate if it capsized, if it sank, if it was run over. He gave us no information. He wasn't able to."
Rescuers say although they're trained to handle these situations, this was a day-long rescue effort unlike any they've ever experienced.
Cacioli says, "I think its a crazy day. I'm glad we were all there. I'm grateful for the ones that were rescued. It's just a tragic day."
BOYNTON BEACH, FL -- The U.S. Coast Guard is reporting that
ten people are dead after a boat carrying migrants, possibly from Haiti, sank off the Florida coast.
The Coast Guard says the sinking fits the profile of migrant smuggling, and says a total of 27 people have been rescued.
Officials say they are not sure if the boat capsized or crashed into something.The boat was apparently coming from the Bahamas.
A good Samaritan contacted the Coast Guard around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday reporting there were numerous people in the water.
The vessel reportedly sank around 2 a.m. Wednesday.
A convoy of fire-rescue emergency vehicles was seen traveling along I-95 from Boynton Beach to Riviera Beach to assist in the mass casualty incident. A1A was closed to non-emergency traffic near Ocean Inlet Park.
Original reports from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue officials on scene were that twenty-one migrants were confirmed dead, after a boat carrying up to 28 people capsized about 15 miles east of Boynton Beach but they are now deferring all information to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The United States Coast Guard and several local agencies are conducting a massive search and rescue operation.
The Coast Guard is identifying the people involved as Haitian and Bahamian migrants.
The Blue Heron Bridge is currently shut down to make way for rescue vehicles transporting people in need of medical attention.
The Coast Guard believes there may be more victims at sea, or ashore.
