The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) said on Wednesday that 20 people are missing off the coast of Florida after a Cuban migrant boat sank due to Hurricane Ian. USBP agents had responded to an attempted migrant landing at Stock Island, Florida.

The U.S. Coast Guard initiated a search operation for 23 missing people, of which three were rescued and taken to hospital for symptoms of exhaustion and dehydration.

Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar said that four additional Cuban migrants swam to shore after their vessel sank and are now in hospital.

Over 1.5 million have reported power outages in Florida after Ian made landfall in the state on Wednesday, CNN reported.

(With input from Reuters)