On Saturday, the crew of the US Coast Guard Jayhawk Clearwater MH-60 helicopter reported a 13-meter sailboat overloaded with people 26 nautical miles (42 km) north of Punta Maisi, Cuba.

Alerted, the Coast Guard cutter Thetis from Key West, Florida, went to the scene and the crew recovered 86 Haitians who were piling up dangerously, in a makeshift boat that was not equipped to carry as many passengers.

The Jayhawk crew remained on the scene during the rescue, providing air support as the weather worsened, threatening to capsize the migrant boat.

Once on board the Thetis, the Haitians received medical care, food and water and were subsequently repatriated to Haiti in the Cap-Haitien region.

Since October 1, 221 Haitians have tried to illegally enter by sea to the States. Since the beginning of the year 2,488 Haitian migrants in total have been intercepted in the straits of Florida, the Caribbean and the Atlantic.

S/ HaitiLibre