According to local news outlets in Fort Lauderdale, a rescueoperation was underway Monday evening, January 25, to help save 13 people stuckon a yacht sinking 12 miles off Sunrise Boulevard and seven miles offFort Lauderdale Beach. Local 10 news, an ABC news affiliate, has named thevessel as M/Y Serena III.
All passengers are safe on a Coast Guard vessel, accordingto the reports. CBS Miami reported on Twitter roughly 20 minutes after breakingthe news that the yacht’s bow was 40 feet in the air after passengers wererescued.
The cause of the sinking has yet to be determined, but Local10 reports that the Coast Guard is handling the incident. Check back for moreinformation as it becomes available.
http://www.local10.com/news/13-rescued-7-miles-off-fort-lauderdale-beach
UPDATE 1/26:
Coast Guard Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios told Dockwalk the Coast Guard received a callfrom the vessel itself about 6:30 p.m. on January 25 that the vessel had beguntaking on water.
“We quickly launched three assets, including a small crewboat from Coast Guard Fort Lauderdale, a helicopter from Coast Guard Miami anda response cutter from Coast Guard Miami, the Margaret Norvell,” he said, adding that they were able to recoverall 13 people relatively quickly and take them to Coast Guard Miami.
“As of last night, [M/Y SerenaIII] sank twenty-five minutes after the last passenger was taken off thevessel,” says Rios.
Sea Tow was also at the scene to help salvage the vessel. Amessage on its Facebook page reads, “Our crew gave it a valiant effort toarrive on the scene with multiple vessels and pumps, but she was too far gone.We were able to recover a Jet Ski, inflatable tender and life raft.”
Lisa Morgan of Sea Tow told the Sun Sentinel that the yachtsank in “deep, unrecoverable waters.”
According to Rios, the cause behind the incident is stillcurrently under investigation.
View a video of the incident at https://www.dvidshub.net/video/447347/m-y-serena-iii-rescue#.VqePS0jBymG
Photos courtesy of @USCGSoutheast