2 children dead after barge strikes sailboat from youth sailing program: Officials
Two children participating in a youth sailing program are dead after a barge struck their sailboat in Miami Beach on Monday, officials said.
The sailboat capsized in Biscayne Bay, between Monument Island and Hibiscus Island, according to the Miami Beach Police Department.
All on board the sailboat -- a counselor and five girls -- were thrown into the water in the collision, authorities said. They all were recovered and transported to a local hospital, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Two girls -- ages 7 and 13 -- were pronounced dead at the hospital, the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami said. Two other girls -- ages 8 and 11 -- remain in critical condition, it said Tuesday afternoon. A 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman who were rescued did not require medical treatment, it said.
The children were all believed to have been wearing life jackets at the time of the collision, the Coast Guard said, based on preliminary information.
The Miami Yacht Club confirmed the incident involved members of its youth sailing program.
"At this time, details are still emerging, and we are actively gathering all available facts," the Miami Yacht Club said in a statement on Monday. "Our priority is the safety and well-being of everyone involved, and we are working closely with the appropriate authorities and organizations to understand the situation fully."
The two-vessel collision, which occurred shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Monday, prompted a large emergency response involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the sailboat remained submerged under the barge, with salvage work set to begin soon, the Coast Guard said.
The incident remains under investigation.
Investigators are reviewing video evidence and interviewing witnesses, Coast Guard officials said. Speed and vessel awareness are always factors considered in the agency's investigations, officials said.
The FWC said its officers are assisting the Coast Guard with the investigation.
"Our hearts are with the families of those lost and all who have been affected by this tragedy," Capt. Frank Florio, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, said in a statement. "The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causal factors and identify steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future."
ABC News' Jason Volack contributed to this report.
