Nearly 500 Migrants Come Ashore in Florida Keys, Forcing Major Park to Close; Florida Keys' Dry Tortugas National Park to Shut Down After Hundreds of Immigrants Arrive

Nearly 500 migrants come ashore in Florida Keys, forcing major park to close:

A massive wave of migrants arrived in the Florida Keys over the weekend, as some 500 people believed to be from Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean came ashore in what local officials described as a major “crisis.”

The arrivals forced authorities to close Dry Tortugas National Park, where some 300 migrants arrived over New Year’s and were met by first responders who did their best to provide aid, including food and water.

At about the same time, another 160 migrants landed by boat in other parts of the Florida Keys, officials said.

Then on Monday, two new groups of migrants that made up about 30 people were found in the Middle Keys.

Officials with Dry Tortugas National Park said the park would be closed to the public for “several days” while efforts are made to assist and process the migrants.

The national park, which is 70 miles west of Key West, is only accessible by boat or seaplane. It is made up of seven small islands.

“The closure, which is expected to last several days, is necessary for the safety of visitors and staff because of the resources and space needed to attend to the migrants,” park officials said in a statement. --->READ MORE HERE

Florida Keys' Dry Tortugas National Park to shut down after hundreds of immigrants arrive:

The Florida Keys' Dry Tortugas National Park plans to shut down due to a sudden influx of hundreds of immigrants.

The park estimates that the closure will last for several days. The immigrants, mostly from Cuba, arrived on ships over two days.

The park will "temporarily close to public access while law enforcement and medical personnel evaluate, provide care for and coordinate transport to Key West for approximately 300 migrants who arrived in the park over the past couple of days," a statement from the park read, obtained by ABC News.

"Like elsewhere in the Florida Keys, the park has recently seen an increase in people arriving by boat from Cuba and landing on the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park. Park first responders provide food, water and basic medical attention until the Department of Homeland Security arrives and takes the lead," it added.

The Coast Guard similarly acknowledged the landings and said it was coordinating efforts to recover immigrants stranded on the uninhabited islands of the park. --->READ MORE HERE

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