PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos – Nine people are confirmed dead now, as the death toll continues to rise after a Haitian sloop, originating from Cape Haitian is believed to have capsized on a reef near West Caicos sending dozens of illegal migrants overboard.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hubert Hughes confirmed to TurksandCaicosonTV.com that five people managed to swim to scantly populated West Caicos. Workers there contacted authorities around 1pm Monday July 27th and a mission involving first responders of The Turks and Caicos Islands was immediately mobilized.
Reports say the boat ran into trouble around 10pm Sunday July 26, five people swam ashore and US Coast Guard joined with the Police Marine Branch to rescue the migrants which numbered 122 at noon today.
Residents flocked to South Dock on Monday evening, where police boats could be seen bringing in the weary men and women who were treated at the scene for dehydration and other injuries. From TCOTV’s vantage point, we could see gurneys laden with seemingly lifeless bodies moving from the rescue boats to the Medivac units. The injured awaited transport to the local health facility via public and private sector ambulances – all on deck – which made several trips back and forth with sirens blaring.
“Nine have been confirmed dead and we have not yet been able to ascertain how many were on the boat originally. However, a boat like the one the migrants were on usually carries between 150 to 160 people.”
Red Cross, Salvation Army and the Fire Department joined medical and police personnel at the scene in an effort to make no repeat of the last strikingly similar scenario, where The Turks and Caicos was brutally criticized for its handling of an interception. The boat in that May 2007 incident capsized and 72 Haitians were mangled by sharks.
“I must commend the emergency responders for doing a really marvellous job. It is really a well coordinated effort.”
TCOTV has been told that as many as 200 may have been on board the vessel and a Police report reveals that there are several places the Haitians are being treated and detained. There are some at the South Dock Detention Center, others are at the Myrtle Rigby Health Complex and yet others are being housed at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex.
Haitians migrants who survived journey in Turks and Caicos
“The detention center is holding the ones in relatively good health, the Gus Lightbourne is where we have put the ones being observed and treated for dehydration and the health complex has the injured and dead.”
US Coast Guard at sea with Haitians migrants in Turks and Caicos
DCP Hughes said there are conflicting reports on how long the migrants have been at sea.
At this hour, there is still a search and rescue mission ongoing involving the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force Marine Branch and the US Coast Guard which has a cutter and two helicopters aiding in a search for survivors and bodies.
“They are looking for survivors and we are also focused on determining exactly how these migrants died.”
There had also been reports that sharks which usually frequent these waters had eaten some of the migrants, but DCP Hubert Hughes says none of the bodies showed any signs of being attacked by sharks.
“Even though the bodies found were discovered near the wreckage, there is a possibility that some may be lost at sea; there was no indication of shark attacks.”
The Governor’s Office has already notified Haitian authorities about the tragedy.
