Costa Maya, Q.R. — Seven people of Cuban origin were rescued off Costa Maya earlier this week. The rescue happened Wednesday, but was not made public until now.
On February 11, seven men from Cuba were rescued by Costa Maya fishermen who found them adrift off the coast of Mahahual. The fishermen were eventually assisted by the Mexican Navy in coordination with personnel from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanap).
The Secretariat of the Navy reported that personnel through the Eleventh Naval Zone provided medical attention to seven people who were located near the island of Banco Chinchorro.
According to the official report, the seven individuals, all Cuban nationals, were reported seen adrift in a makeshift vessel off the southern coast of Quintana Roo.
They were spotted by local fishermen near the island of Banco Chinchorro south of Mahahual around noon Wednesday. The fishermen who saw them transported them to the island where they were met by federal Conanp (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas) personnel.
At the scene, Conanp requested transportation support from the Mexican Navy for a water transfer to the mainland at Mahahual.
Marina personnel used their Interceptor Patrol Vessel Rasalhague to transport the seven Cuban nationals to a Mahahual fishing pier.
At the pier, they were met by waiting National Migration Institute (INM) officers. All seven were found to be in good health and were processed by federal immigration officers.
Legal proceedings by the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) were started to determine their immigration status in Mexico.
While makeshift vessel sightings are not uncommon off the coast of Quintana Roo, the fuel crisis in Cuba is making things worse.
According to CBC News, many Cubans have reported struggling to find food and going without electricity for five hour stretches to ration what is left of the island’s fuel. The more fortunate islanders still have bouts of power in their homes for 30 minute sessions a few times a day.
On February 6, an official notice posted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website said Havana’s José Martí International Airport was nearly out of jet fuel. The following day, major airlines across Canada pulled their flights to the island.
This week, Mexico sent over 800 tons of humanitarian food and supply aid to the island with another shipment pending.
