The Office of Public Affairs of the Embassy of the United States of America informs us that 13 illegal Haitian migrants were rescued at sea earlier this week, thanks to the joint efforts of the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH), the Embassy of the United States and the US Coast Guard.

A Haitian boat that had left Port-de-Paix for Turks and Caicos Islands began losing power and to take water before sinking halfway. The captain sent a distress signal, while he was in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, near the Bahamas. The signal was intercepted by SEMANAH and forwarded to the Maritime Rescue Coordinate Center of Miami, via a liaison officer of the Coast Guard of the Embassy of the United States Port au Prince.

The US Coast Guard dispatched the ship "Escanaba" in the region as well as two helicopters from the base of the Bahamian Coast Guard and began searching. In the night, they located the 13 survivors in a rescue raft and carried out the rescue operation.

The US Coast Guard dispatched a small boat for the transport of 13 people. One of the shipwrecked was transferred to the Bahamas by helicopter for medical treatment.

On the morning of Thursday, July 7, 2016, the US Coast Guard have returned 12 of the 13 Haitians at the base of the Coastguard of Cap-Haitien, all safe and sound.

The US government recommends that anyone who would intend to immigrate illegally to not take that risk recalling that clandestine trips are illegal and dangerous.

HL/ HaitiLibre