Cuba’s government said its border guard exchanged gunfire with a speedboat registered in the United States near the Cuban coast. The incident reportedly left four people dead and six others injured.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior said the boat, which was registered in Florida, approached an area about one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, according to The New York Times.
The ministry said Cuban authorities moved toward the vessel to identify it. According to the statement, people on the speedboat allegedly opened fire, and the commander of the Cuban vessel was injured.
“As a result of the confrontation,” the ministry said, four people were killed and six were wounded. Officials added that those injured were evacuated and received medical care.
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Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior said the country remains committed to protecting its territorial waters, describing national defense as essential to maintaining its sovereignty and regional stability.
Florida Representative María Elvira Salazar said on X that she was closely monitoring reports about the shooting involving a Florida-registered speedboat. She called the situation ongoing and said she was waiting for more information from U.S. authorities.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also posted on X, saying he had directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with federal and state partners to begin an investigation.
According to The New York Times, a U.S. official said the civilian boat was reportedly part of a flotilla involved in helping people leave Cuba.
