A maritime identification turned into a deadly exchange of gunfire on Wednesday morning after a Florida-registered speedboat entered Cuban territorial waters. The incident left four people dead and several others wounded just off the coast of Villa Clara province.
According to a statement released by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior via the Cuban Embassy, the confrontation began when Cuban Border Guard Troops spotted a vessel with the registration number FL7726SH.
The boat had reportedly moved within one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones. When a Cuban surface unit carrying five service members closed in to identify the craft, the situation escalated instantly.
The Cuban Ministry reported that the crew of the speedboat opened fire on the patrol, wounding the Cuban vessel’s commander. In the ensuing firefight, four people aboard the foreign speedboat were killed. Six others on the vessel sustained injuries; they were subsequently evacuated from the scene to receive medical treatment.
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The event has already drawn sharp reactions from U.S. lawmakers. Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) has called for a formal investigation into the clash to determine who was involved.
“United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred,” Gimenez said in a statement.
While the specific identities and motives of those on the Florida-based boat have not yet been released, the Cuban government has framed the event as a matter of national security.
In their official note, the Ministry of the Interior stated, “In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.”
Local authorities in Villa Clara have launched an investigation into the incident. The Cuban Embassy noted that “investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events,” as officials look to determine the origin of the gunfire and the purpose of the speedboat’s presence in the area.
At this time, there has been no official comment from U.S. federal authorities regarding the Florida-registered vessel or its occupants.
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