13 de Marzo Incident
Encyclopedia : 1 : 13 : 13D : 13 de Marzo Incident
On July 13, 1994, seventy-two Cubans attempted to leave the island of Cuba on a World War II era tugboat from the town of Regla near Havana. The Cuban group, consisting of men, women and children had decided to leave their home country for the United States. Cuban authorities were aware of the plan, however, and sent one government boat to intercept them. When the 72 tried to escape, the authorities began to spray water at the tugboat. Two more boats surrounded them and started to circle around, ramming the "13 de Marzo" until it began to sink.
After forty minutes a Cuban Coast Guard vessel picked up the 31 survivors and took them back to Havana. The vessel is accused of watching the situation without acting, but this report has not been confirmed.
Out of the 72 passengers on the "13 de Marzo", 41 were drowned, 23 of them children.
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