Cuban authorities say a confrontation on February 25, 2026, between their Border Guard Troops and a Florida-registered speedboat left four people dead and several wounded.
The Ministry of the Interior reported the vessel was registered as FL7726SH and was detected about one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province.
Cuban officials said a surface unit with five service members approached the boat to identify it and that the speedboat crew opened fire, wounding the commander of the Cuban craft.
The Cuban statement said four individuals aboard the speedboat were killed and six were injured and received medical attention.
The Cuban release was issued through official channels including the Cuban Embassy in the United States and referenced in a statement.
Cuba stated it remains determined to defend its territorial waters and that investigations are ongoing to clarify the events.
U.S. reaction and lawmaker calls
No immediate public reply was reported from U.S. agencies such as the State Department or the White House as outlets sought comment.
Florida Representative Carlos Gimenez called for an urgent investigation and said authorities must determine whether any victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents.
He described the event as a “massacre” and said the Cuban government “must be relegated to the dust bin of history.”
Representative María Elvira Salazar said she was closely monitoring the unfolding situation.
The purpose of the voyage and the identities and nationalities of those aboard have not been disclosed by Cuban sources.
