Authorities announced Sunday that 17 people had drowned after a boat carrying Haitian immigrants capsized off the coast of the Bahamas amid an ongoing wave of migration by sea towards the United States.
“Rescue teams found the bodies of 17 people, including a child, and 25 people were rescued,” Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis told a press conference, adding that authorities believe they were on a speedboat bound for Miami. .
The Prime Minister stated that “the boat is believed to have capsized in high waves”.
Police Chief Clayton Fernander said up to 60 people may have been on board and more people are considered missing.
Authorities said they detained two people, both from the Bahamas, on suspicion of being involved in smuggling migrants, and it is believed that all on board the boat were from Haiti.
Bahamas police said the ship capsized seven miles (11 km) off New Providence Island.
The Bahamas is a frequent transit route for Haitian immigrants seeking to enter the United States.
Source: db a