Boat with 20 aboard disappears between Bahamas and US

In this file photo taken on April 30, 2020 United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Caroline Miller wears a face mask aboard a patrol boat during monitoring of oil tankers anchored near the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic off the coast of Long Beach, California. A boat carrying 20 people has disappeared between the Bahamas and Florida, the US Coast Guard announced January 2, 2021, the day after suspending an unsuccessful three day search. Photo by MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

WASHINGTON — A boat carrying 20 people has disappeared between the Bahamas and Florida, the US Coast Guard announced Saturday, the day after suspending an unsuccessful three day search.

The boat, which left the island of Bimini on Monday, was due to dock at Lake Worth in the southern US state, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) away.

On Tuesday, the Coast Guard was alerted that the boat never arrived at port, according to a statement.

For the next three days, teams from both countries conducted a joint aerial and maritime search over about 17,000 square miles (44,000 square kilometers), but efforts were suspended Friday, the Coast Guard said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the missing people,” said Captain Stephen Burdian, who urged anyone with information about the missing boat to contact the Coast Guard.