18 dead as migrant ship capsizes

COCKBURN TOWN, Turks and Caicos Islands, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- At least 18 people died when a boat filled with suspected illegal Haitian immigrants capsized near Turks and Caicos Islands, government officials said.

The boat was located by Turks and Caicos marine branch police and was being towed to port when it overturned at 3:21 a.m. Wednesday. Caribbean Journal said 32 people were rescued but 18 drowned. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter has been dispatched to the area to help search for more bodies.

Caribbean Journal said the problem of illegal Haitian immigrants has been a common one of late and has caused some tensions between Haitian and other island nation leaders as a result.