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Haiti migrants in boat disaster | Haiti migrants in boat disaster |
(about 4 hours later) | |
At least 20 Haitian migrants have died after their boat capsized near the Turks and Caicos Islands north of Haiti, the US coastguard says. | |
Survivors say about 150 people were on board. At least 73 people were saved, but about 58 are still missing. | |
The incident happened as the boat was being towed by a police vessel from the Turks and Caicos, US officials say. | |
The officers saw it was having trouble staying afloat and were trying to tow it to port when it capsized, they say. | |
The boat was about half a mile (0.8km) off Providenciales Island in the Atlantic Ocean when it capsized at 0420 (0920 GMT), the coastguard says. | |
Dangerous crossing | |
Sixty-three people were immediately picked up by the police boat. | |
Ten more people were later saved, after being spotted clinging to the hull of the capsized vessel. | Ten more people were later saved, after being spotted clinging to the hull of the capsized vessel. |
The coastguard says its helicopter - which is assisting in the search and rescue operation - located about 20 bodies in the water. | The coastguard says its helicopter - which is assisting in the search and rescue operation - located about 20 bodies in the water. |
A coastguard vessel and a C-130 aircraft are also taking part in the operation. | A coastguard vessel and a C-130 aircraft are also taking part in the operation. |
The number of Haitian migrants attempting the dangerous crossings to the US or to other Caribbean islands has increased in recent months. | The number of Haitian migrants attempting the dangerous crossings to the US or to other Caribbean islands has increased in recent months. |
The Turks and Caicos islands, a British overseas territory, is located to the north of Haiti and south-east of the Bahamas. | The Turks and Caicos islands, a British overseas territory, is located to the north of Haiti and south-east of the Bahamas. |