MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway following a serious watercraft collision involving a barge and a sailboat near 131 North Hibiscus Drive in Biscayne Bay, off the coast of Miami Beach.
The incident occurred just before noon on Monday, when authorities received reports of a submerged sailboat near Hibiscus Island, prompting an immediate response from emergency services.
According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the call was initially reported as a vessel in distress, with people potentially trapped or missing.
Fireboats, dive teams, and air rescue units were quickly dispatched to the scene.
At least two individuals were pulled from the water, and CPR was in progress on at least one pediatric victim, officials confirmed.
The full number of individuals aboard the sailboat at the time of the incident remains uncertain, and additional victims may still be missing.
Rescue divers and marine units are actively searching the surrounding waters for any remaining passengers.
The circumstances leading up to the collision between the barge and the sailboat have not yet been determined.
Local and federal marine authorities are expected to open a formal investigation into the cause of the crash once the rescue phase concludes.
Hibiscus Island, a gated residential community in Biscayne Bay, was temporarily closed to non-emergency traffic as crews continued rescue efforts.
This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Authorities urge boaters and residents in the area to remain clear of the scene to allow emergency operations to continue without obstruction.
