Rescuers in Florida free 19 manatees stuck in drain

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rescuers working late into the night freed 19 manatees who were stuck in a storm drain in central Florida.

Capt. Jay Dragon of the Satellite Beach Fire Department said early Tuesday that the 19 manatees were all alive and were returned to the Indian River Lagoon System.

A manatee-rescue team from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, along with police and firefighters, were helping the marine mammals Monday evening. Rescuers brought heavy earth-moving equipment to the Satellite Beach neighborhood, located on a barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean.

Authorities initially said there were as many as 15 manatees stuck in the drain.