Authorities said on Sunday that 17 people were killed when a boat carrying Haitian immigrants capsized off the coast of the Bahamas, and more Haitians were trying to reach the United States to escape poverty and gang violence.
Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis said at a news conference that rescuers had exhumed the bodies of 17 people, including a child, and that 25 people had been rescued. Davis said authorities believe Haitians were on a speedboat bound for Miami.
It is estimated that the boat capsized in the rough sea,” he said.
Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said there could be as many as 60 people on board, with more reported missing.
Bahamian authorities said two men, both from the Bahamas, were detained on suspicion of participating in a human smuggling operation. Anyone who was rescued or still missing on board, dead or alive, was considered an immigrant from Haiti.
Bahamas police said the boat sank 11km off the island of New Providence.
The Bahamas is a frequent destination for Haitian immigrants looking to reach the United States. Risky cruises on ramshackle boats have become increasingly common in the past year as Haitians flee poverty and gang violence.
Immigration Minister Keith Bell said the survivors paid between $3,000 and $8,000 for the trip.
“We mourn the loss of those seeking a better life,” Bell said. “People who live here but have family and friends in Haiti ask loved ones not to risk their lives.”
In May, a boat carrying 842 Haitian immigrants bound for the United States deviated from its course and ended up on the northern coast of Cuba.
That same month, 11 people drowned when a boat carrying Haitian immigrants capsized near Puerto Rico.
source: Noticias
[author_name]
