Two young girls were killed, and several others were rescued Monday when a barge collided with a small sailboat during a youth sailing camp Monday near Hibiscus Island in Miami Beach.
Authorities say the sailboat had six people on board, including children and an adult instructor. The Coast Guard and other local rescue teams arrived quickly but say this loss has deeply impacted the community. Survivors were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
The collision has left many families and boaters shaken, raising new concerns about how busy waterways are shared by large commercial vessels and small recreational boats. Officials say they are now focused on recovering the sunken sailboat and gathering evidence to find out exactly how this happened.
“Our hearts are with the families of those lost and all who have been affected by this tragedy,” said Capt. Frank Florio, commander of the Coast Guard Sector Miami. “Incidents like this leave a lasting impact on our maritime community and reinforce the importance of learning from every loss. The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causal factors and identify steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
As families grieve, the boating community is coming together to support them and to call for stronger safety measures on the water.
