By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON, Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for 39 people missing for several days after a boat believed to be used for human smuggling capsized off Florida's coast en route from the Bahamas.

The maritime security agency tweeted that a good Samaritan called the Coast Guard early Tuesday after rescuing a man clinging to the boat 45 miles east of Fort Pierce.

The man said he was part of a group of people who left the island of Bimini in the Bahamas on Saturday night.

He said the boat capsized in severe weather. The Coast Guard is calling it a suspected human smuggling case.

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