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| 30 Haitians Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Bahamas | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| MIAMI — A 40-foot sailboat overloaded with Haitians ran aground Monday night near the Bahamas, killing at least 30 people aboard, the United States Coast Guard said Tuesday. | MIAMI — A 40-foot sailboat overloaded with Haitians ran aground Monday night near the Bahamas, killing at least 30 people aboard, the United States Coast Guard said Tuesday. |
| The vessel had been at sea for about nine days, with at least 100 people on board, a spokesman for the Coast Guard in Miami, Lt. Cmdr. Gabe Somma, said. None had life jackets. | The vessel had been at sea for about nine days, with at least 100 people on board, a spokesman for the Coast Guard in Miami, Lt. Cmdr. Gabe Somma, said. None had life jackets. |
| The accident was the latest in a series of shipwrecks involving Haitian migrants, who pay smugglers to ferry them across dangerous waters to the United States in boats that are often unseaworthy. Many of the boats sail through the Bahamas. | The accident was the latest in a series of shipwrecks involving Haitian migrants, who pay smugglers to ferry them across dangerous waters to the United States in boats that are often unseaworthy. Many of the boats sail through the Bahamas. |
| “This is just another example that highlights the dangers of illegal migration and taking to the sea,” Commander Somma said. “The sea is unforgiving. These are dangerous vessels. They are unbalanced, overloaded, and they are not stable.” | “This is just another example that highlights the dangers of illegal migration and taking to the sea,” Commander Somma said. “The sea is unforgiving. These are dangerous vessels. They are unbalanced, overloaded, and they are not stable.” |
| The vessel was spotted by fishermen late last week and reported to Bahamian authorities, he said. On Monday, Bahamian authorities asked the Coast Guard for assistance. A Coast Guard helicopter found the ship near Scrub Cay, about 20 miles from where it was first seen, Commander Somma said. | The vessel was spotted by fishermen late last week and reported to Bahamian authorities, he said. On Monday, Bahamian authorities asked the Coast Guard for assistance. A Coast Guard helicopter found the ship near Scrub Cay, about 20 miles from where it was first seen, Commander Somma said. |
| The boat had run aground and capsized near Harvey Cay, in the Exuma chain. Ten bodies in the water could be seen from the helicopter, along with 30 people in the water and up to 60 clinging to the boat. | The boat had run aground and capsized near Harvey Cay, in the Exuma chain. Ten bodies in the water could be seen from the helicopter, along with 30 people in the water and up to 60 clinging to the boat. |
| Thirteen people were hoisted onto the helicopter. During the night, the Coast Guard dropped food, water and eight life rafts. | Thirteen people were hoisted onto the helicopter. During the night, the Coast Guard dropped food, water and eight life rafts. |
| “The water varies in depth,” Commander Somma said. “For some it was waist-deep. For others, it was over their heads.” | “The water varies in depth,” Commander Somma said. “For some it was waist-deep. For others, it was over their heads.” |
| A search was underway to find more survivors and recover more bodies, said Lt. Origin Deleveaux, a spokesman for the Royal Bahamian Defense Force. A Bahamian naval ship arrived Tuesday morning, and 110 survivors were brought aboard. | A search was underway to find more survivors and recover more bodies, said Lt. Origin Deleveaux, a spokesman for the Royal Bahamian Defense Force. A Bahamian naval ship arrived Tuesday morning, and 110 survivors were brought aboard. |
| Three bodies have been recovered, Lieutenant Deleveaux said. | Three bodies have been recovered, Lieutenant Deleveaux said. |
| It was unclear from where the ship first sailed, he said. | It was unclear from where the ship first sailed, he said. |
| “This has been an issue for the defense forces, because we have 100,000 square miles of waters and an issue because the geographical makeup of the Bahamas makes it very, very difficult to patrol our waters,” he said. | “This has been an issue for the defense forces, because we have 100,000 square miles of waters and an issue because the geographical makeup of the Bahamas makes it very, very difficult to patrol our waters,” he said. |
| Last year, Bahamian authorities stopped 1,330 migrants at sea, while the latest voyage puts the number this year at more 1,400 with a month remaining in the year, he said. | Last year, Bahamian authorities stopped 1,330 migrants at sea, while the latest voyage puts the number this year at more 1,400 with a month remaining in the year, he said. |
| Four Haitian women died off the coast of the Bahamas in October when their ship capsized 25 miles from Miami Beach. The captain and a crew member were charged in United States federal court. | Four Haitian women died off the coast of the Bahamas in October when their ship capsized 25 miles from Miami Beach. The captain and a crew member were charged in United States federal court. |
| October also saw the death of a Brazilian woman who drowned trying to make it to the shore at Palm Beach shore after traveling from the Bahamas with people from Ecuador and Haiti. | October also saw the death of a Brazilian woman who drowned trying to make it to the shore at Palm Beach shore after traveling from the Bahamas with people from Ecuador and Haiti. |
| A Haitian teenage girl also drowned in Palm Beach in August. | A Haitian teenage girl also drowned in Palm Beach in August. |
| “During this time of the year, there is always a spike,” Lieutenant Deleveaux said. “Even though the weather conditions are not favorable, we find persons will take the journey. We could surmise the situation in Haiti is not getting better — it may be getting worse — so they risk life and limb in search of a better life.” | “During this time of the year, there is always a spike,” Lieutenant Deleveaux said. “Even though the weather conditions are not favorable, we find persons will take the journey. We could surmise the situation in Haiti is not getting better — it may be getting worse — so they risk life and limb in search of a better life.” |
Timothy Williams contributed reporting from New York. | Timothy Williams contributed reporting from New York. |
| This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: November 26, 2013 | Correction: November 26, 2013 |
An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect rank for Gabe Somma, a Coast Guard spokesman. He is a lieutenant commander, not a lieutenant. | An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect rank for Gabe Somma, a Coast Guard spokesman. He is a lieutenant commander, not a lieutenant. |