Around 100 Haitians rescued from capsized vessel
On 26 November, the US Coast Guard (USCG) reported that at least 10 Haitian migrants had been reported dead and approximately 100 were being rescued by USCG and Royal Bahamas Defense Force rescue crews 15 nautical miles southwest of Staniel Cay, Bahamas.
On 26 November, the US Coast Guard (USCG) reported that at least 10 Haitian migrants had been reported dead and approximately 100 were being rescued by USCG and Royal Bahamian Defense Force rescue crews 15 nautical miles southwest of Staniel Cay, Bahamas.
More than 100 Haitian migrants fell into the water during the night of 25 November when their overloaded sail freighter grounded and capsized off the coast of Staniel Cay, said the Guard. The incident was reported by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and relayed to USCG 7th District command centre watchstanders. The migrants were clinging to the hull of the grounded 40-ft (12-m) sail freighter when rescue crews arrived.
An USCG Air Station Clearwater MH-60 helicopter crew attached to Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos responded and hoisted 13 people from the water after deploying a mass rescue raft. A USCG Air Station Miami HC-144 aircrew and an Air Station Clearwater HC-130 dropped food, supplies and eight additional life rafts to provide assistance.
The Royal Bahamas Defense Force launched a 108-ft (33-m) patrol boat to assist with the rescue of Haitians from the overloaded sail freighter.