A search and rescue operation is underway in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats filled with humanitarian supplies travelling from Mexico to Cuba.
Mexico has deployed naval teams and military search aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying at least nine crew members, the Mexican navy said in a statement.
The vessels had been expected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no confirmation of their arrival, the navy said.
The Mexican navy is committed to using all available resources to locate the boats and ensure the safety of the crews.
The two missing ships departed Isla Mujeres, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on March 20.
The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba, and the US. Mexican authorities established contact with maritime rescue coordination centres from each of these countries along with their diplomatic representatives.
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signaling equipment, the convoy's spokesperson stated. We are cooperating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely.
There has been no comment on the missing boats from the Cuban government. This comes shortly after Cuba celebrated the arrival of another vessel that had delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid earlier in the week.
In recent months, volunteers and NGOs have increased their efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Cuba, especially following the U.S. fuel embargo that began in January. The United Nations has warned of serious supply shortages, highlighting the struggles faced by the island due to the ongoing energy crisis.
