Boat Carrying Migrants Capsizes Off Florida Keys; At Least 5 Dead

At least five people have died and five others remain missing after a vessel carrying migrants trying to enter the U.S. capsized in the Florida Keys.

Crews are searching for the missing persons, the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (USGC) said Sunday.

At least 19 persons were on board the vessel when it capsized Saturday. Out of them, nine were rescued and one person was found dead. Officers believe four others drowned "immediately" after the boat overturned, the agency said in the statement.

The incident took place about 50 miles off the coast of Florida near Little Torch Key.

Authorities added some of the rescued migrants had life jackets, which protected them from drowning in the sea during high wind conditions.

"Some of the rescued wore life jackets, saving their lives in 6- to 8-foot seas and 30 mph winds," the Coast Guard said in the statement. "Search crews recovered two unresponsive, unconscious people. It is unclear if these people are part of the four reported to have drowned or of the five people unaccounted for."

"For individuals residing in the US seeking information on a family member possibly intercepted by the Coast Guard, please contact your local government representative," it added.

The U.S. Coast Guard didn't reveal which country the migrants were from but it tagged the U.S. Embassy in Cuba in its Twitter post.

In January, at least 39 people were reported missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Florida in a "suspected human smuggling venture." The Coast Guard said they were alerted by a "Good Samaritan" who rescued a man clinging from the vessel approximately 45 miles east of Fort Pierce Inlet. The boat reportedly started its journey from Bimini in the Bahamas and it capsized after encountering rough weather conditions.