WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a mysterious red substance floating along the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach on Monday, leaving many in the community looking for answers.
Early Monday morning, aerial video from WPTV Chopper 5 captured the scene on North Flagler along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Around 8:30 a.m., a group of women headed to yoga looked out their condo window and also saw the scene.
"We saw the spill out there, so we went down, and it smelled a little bit like oil," Cathy Boaz said.
Boaz shared pictures of the initial scene of the red substance spreading throughout the water.
Reacting swiftly to the situation, Boaz took matters into her own hands.
"I went down, and I shouldn't have done it, but I waded in the water and got my jar to get a sample of it. It was so oily that I couldn't even get it off with soap. I went upstairs to my condo to use Dawn because isn't that what they clean the ducks with? I figured it would work for me," Boaz said.
Audrey Jaggy accompanied Boaz on her yoga trip.
While her neighbor collected water samples, Jaggy noticed a manatee approaching the substance.
"He came right in by the spill, so I was worried," Jaggy said.
Jaggy said the manatee must have noticed the substance and it turned around.
Both women said the Coast Guard arrived there within an hour.
While on the scene, WPTV reporter Kendall Hyde asked one of the officers what the substance was and whether they knew how it made its way into the water. He answered "No comment."
As the cleanup crews continued their work on the scene into the evening, the lack of information or updates from officials is causing growing concern among the residents, who fear for the safety of humans and wildlife.
"The call went in at 8:15, and now they're just doing it. The fire department was here forever, and now they're just getting going," Jaggy said.
"It's scary. I'm going to ask if they're going to test the water because I got grandkids. I don't want them in this water. We see stingray here. My husband fishes off the pier," Boaz said.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) said they responded to the scene Monday, but the source of the sheen is unknown.
"At this time, a source has not been directly associated with the sheen, but DEP is working with the United States Coast Guard and local authorities to survey the local waterways and surrounding areas to identify a potential source," FDEP said in a statement.
Officials said water samples taken by West Palm Beach Fire Rescue determined it was kerosene.
A contractor was hired by the Coast Guard to conduct cleanup activities, which were completed Tuesday. FDEP said a contractor used absorbent booms to contain the sheen and a vacuum truck pumped out the impacted water.
