Jun 17, 2008 10:56 pm US/Eastern
Report: Smuggling Incident Off Cuba Leaves 1 Dead
Independent Journalists Claim Patrol Boat Spooked Smuggling Operation
Two Boats Collided Avoiding The Patrol Boat
1 Dead, More Injured, Reports Claim
HAVANA (CBS4) ―
Word of a possible collision between a speedboat smuggling people from Cuba to the US and fishing craft, leading to a capsized boat, injuries, and possible deaths is reaching Miami from sources on the island. Cuban government source are not speaking, but an independent Cuban journalist said Tuesday that reports of the incident are growing.
A man who identified himself as a cousin of one of the victims called Miami's WQBA radio Tuesday morning to report the tragedy but did not give his name.
Independent journalist Noel Cuellar Brito, who does not work for the Cuban state media, told
CBS4's Ileana Varela the incident happened early Monday morning when a speedboat tried to pick up passengers on a small island near Isabela de Sagua, which is on the north coast of the Cuban province of Villa Clara.
Brito said reports on the island claim the speedboat was spotted by a Cuban patrol boat and in the panic caused by efforts to avoid the patrol the speedboat rammed a small fishing boat, where passengers were waiting to board the speedboat for the trip to South Florida.
Cuellar said the small fishing boats are used to go from the mainland to small islands offshore where it's considered easier and safer to place escaping Cubans aboard speedboats.
Brito said he has confirmed Ecli Rozabal, believed to be in her 40's, was seriously hurt and her niece, 19-year-old Yudeiki Rozabal, was killed in the accident. A funeral for the teen was held Tuesday.
The teen's family told Cuellar's wife, independent journalist Yudith Hernandez, that the teen's arm was severed by the boat's propeller. Brito said it appears the smugglers boat was able to get away.
CBS4 has been unable to independently confirm details of the report. No report of the incident had appeared in the official Cuban state media by Tuesday evening.
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