The U.S. Coast Guard said it was halting a search for a Florida boat with about 20 people on board.
The blue and white 29-foot Mako Cuddy Cabin vessel left Bimini, Bahamas, on Monday and was expected to arrive in Lake Worth, Florida, about 20 miles south of Palm Beach. The Coast Guard District Seven received a report on Tuesday that the boat had not arrived at its destination, according to a press release.
The Coast Guard and several other agencies searched an area of approximately 17,000 square kilometers for more than three days. It announced Friday that the search has been suspended.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the missing people,” said Capt. Stephen V. Burdian said with the seventh district chief of response. “I encourage anyone with information about the people on board to contact us as soon as possible.”
A Coast Guard spokesman said Saturday the agency had no information about the people on board the boat. The search could resume if the Coast Guard finds new information, the spokesman said.
Police in the Bahamas did not immediately return a request for comment.
Bimini is about 50 miles off Florida’s east coast.
