Four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat were killed Wednesday morning in a gunfight with Cuban border patrol forces after the vessel entered Cuban territorial waters, according to Cuba's Interior Ministry.

The incident occurred when the speedboat was detected approximately one mile northeast of the El Pino channel in Villa Clara province, the Cuban Embassy stated on social media. Cuban authorities described the vessel as a "violating speedboat" that had entered their territorial waters.

According to Cuban officials, those aboard the speedboat opened fire on Cuban border patrol troops, leading to the deadly exchange. The Interior Ministry announced the deaths in a statement posted on social media platforms.

The identities of the four people killed have not been released, and it remains unclear why the occupants of the Florida-based vessel fired on Cuban forces. Cuban authorities have not provided additional details about the circumstances that led to the confrontation.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the waters between Florida and Cuba, where maritime encounters between vessels and border patrol forces periodically occur. Cuban territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from the country's coastline under international maritime law.