Two children died after a barge struck their sailboat during a youth sailing program in Miami Beach on Monday, officials confirmed.
The sailboat capsized in Biscayne Bay, between Monument Island and Hibiscus Island, according to the Miami Beach Police Department. Six people were aboard the sailboat — one adult and five children — and all were pulled from the water and taken to a nearby hospital, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported.
Two juveniles were pronounced dead at the hospital, while two others remain in critical condition. Two additional individuals did not require medical treatment. The group included a counselor and children aged between 8 and 12, authorities said. The Miami Yacht Club confirmed the incident involved members of its youth sailing program.
Emergency crews from several law enforcement agencies responded swiftly to the collision, which happened around 11 a.m. The sailboat remains submerged beneath the barge as of Monday evening. The Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers are jointly investigating the incident.
“Our thoughts are with the families affected by this tragedy,” said Capt. Frank Florio, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami. “A thorough investigation will be conducted to understand what caused this and to help prevent similar incidents in the future.”