Two people have died and up to 10 people are still missing after a boat that set sail from Cuba overturned near Key West in Florida, according to the US Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Cutter Resolute was on routine patrol Thursday when it spotted multiple people in open waters, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

It was then when the Resolute crew rescued eight people from the water, while a Station Key West 45-foot response boat recovered the bodies of two people.

The Coast Guard said it's still searching for the 10 remaining people who are missing, per NBC News.

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Survivors say the group left from Puerto de Mariel, Cuba on Sunday, and their boat capsized on Wednesday night, according to the release.

Senior Chief Seth Haynes, Key West command center supervisor said in a statement: "Our responders are focused on the search for survivors.

"We will continue to search through the night for those reported missing, and if any mariners see or hear anything, to render assistance if possible and contact the Coast Guard."

On its official Twitter account, the Coast Guard said: "USCG assets rescued 8 people and recovered 2 bodies from the water at approximately 1 PM, Thursday, 18 miles southwest of Key West. USCG assets are currently searching for another 10 possible people in the water."

Petty Officer Jose Hernandez, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, told Miami Herald two USCG cutters and other units from Coast Guard Sector Key West were involved in the search.

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He revealed that it's not clear what type of boat went down. "Since it capsized, we did not have any visuals on the boat," he told Miami Herald.

According to the press release, the US Coast Guard responded to a location several miles off Key West around 1 PM on Thursday. after crews on routine patrol spotted multiple people in the water.

Two Coast Guard cutters and several small boats continued to search the area Thursday evening for the missing passengers. There was no immediate sign of the overturned boat.

As of Thursday night, the eight survivors were still onboard a Coast Guard cutter receiving food, water, and medical treatment following the ordeal.

The Coast Guard said Friday morning that rescue teams searched through the night, and would continue to throughout the day.

The search party includes two Coast Guard cutters, a Coast Guard patrol boat, two Coast Guard and one US Navy helicopter in addition to members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Featured image credit: 24BY36 / Alamy

Two people dead and up to 10 missing after boat overturns near Key West in tragic accident