BAHAMAS: Twenty eight Haitians drown when ship sinks off Bahamas

CMC – The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), says at least 28 Haitians drowned off the coast of the island of Abaco.

The tragedy occurred on Saturday when the ship, carrying the Haitians, sunk near Fowl Cay,  off the coast of Marsh Harbour, Abaco. 

“Thus far, a total of 17 persons have been rescued alive and 28 bodies have been recovered from the water,” the RBDF said. 

On Saturday, the joint mission between the RBDF and the US Coast Guard, initially rescued 15 survivors and pulled 13 bodies ashore. 

On Sunday, two more survivors were found alive on a nearby cay, in addition to 15 bodies in the sunken vessel.

The US Embassy in Haiti referred the ship as a vessel trafficking people out of the French Speaking Caribbean nation. 

“No journey is worth risking lives, please urge families and communities: illegal migrant and smuggling operations are dangerous and frequently end in tragedy.”

According to the RBDF, so far this year, 300 Haitians have been apprehended for illegal entry during four separate incidents.