Makeshift raft washes ashore

A makeshift raft was discovered on Fort Lauderdale beach Monday morning.

Ocean rescue officials came across the raft at about 8:20 a.m. while heading to their posts, said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Heiser.

The raft, which washed ashore near the Lago Mar Resort, was unoccupied, although officials found homemade fishing lines, clothing and water containers aboard the vessel, Heiser said.

“It’s not uncommon to come across rafts,” Heiser said. “This stuff washes up all the time.”

There were no reports of migrants, and authorities are not investigating, he said.