27 rescued from waters near Key West as Tropical Storm Elsa passed by

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. — Nine people are missing in the waters south of Key West after Tropical Storm Elsa passed by on Tuesday, officials said.

At least 15 people were rescued on Tuesday, the United States Coast Guard announced in a tweet.

Boaters pulled two people from the waters about 23 miles off the coast of Key West around 4 p.m. and alerted the Coast Guard, officials said. USCG crews responded and pulled 10 more people from the water.

Helicopters, airplanes, and ships were later deployed to help find the missing. Fifteen more survivors were found during that search.

Photos showed some of the people clinging to orange floats in the sea as heavy downpours hit the water.

“The search for more survivors continues as we evaluate the health and provide medical attention for those rescued,” the Coast Guard said in another tweet.

No other details, including who the rescued were, where they were going, and how long they were in the water, were immediately available.

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