More bodies expected from Haitian boat crash

NASSAU (CMC):

The death toll from Monday's accident in which a boat filled with Haitian immigrants capsized in waters off North Abaco is expected to rise after search and rescue officials resumed their operations yesterday after recovering 11 bodies so far.

A statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Force said that at least 28 people had boarded the boat Glory Time on Monday and that while 11 bodies had been recovered, 12 other passengers were still missing.

The police said five other passengers were able to swim to shore.

The police said that the Haitians were heading to Florida from Abaco late on Monday and that a distress call had been made after the boat encountered rough seas and was taking in water before capsizing.

The authorities said that "officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the United States Coast Guard, BASRA and other concerned citizens" responded to the call that had been received late Monday.

It said that the search and rescue was suspended late on Monday night "as a result of darkness and it is expected to continue at daylight yesterday".