Coast Guard halts search for Cuban lost at sea

Saturday, March 27, 2004

MIAMI, USA (AFP): The US Coast Guard Friday stopped its search for a Cuban lost at sea as he and seven others tried to reach US shores on makeshift rafts of inflated tire tubes.

"Search efforts were suspended at 11:55 am (1655 GMT) today for one Cuban migrant reported unaccounted for yesterday by three surviving migrants rescued off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale," Florida, Coast Guard spokesman Tony Russell said in a statement.

"We were unable to locate any survivors."

A woman and two men who were rescued Thursday told the Coast Guard that four others had perished at sea during the 100-mile journey from Cuba, which began on March 18.

"Our sympathies are with the family and friends of those who lost their lives on this ill-fated voyage," said Russell. 

"If there is a positive side to this tragedy, it is the hope that potential migrants, or those supporting them, might realize that it is their life at stake when they get on that raft or hire that smuggler."

Cubans who reach US soil illegally are normally allowed to stay and are given US residency, the right to work and medical benefits. Cubans who are picked up at sea trying to reach US shores illegally, however, normally are repatriated.

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