Illegal Migration: Over 39 die in boat capsizing

SANTO DOMINGO: At least 39 people were confirmed dead after a rickety Dominican boat overloaded with migrants bound for Puerto Rico capsized over the weekend, Civil Defense officials said Wednesday. Bodies have washed ashore for days since the boat went under Saturday off Sabana de la Mar, 155 kilometers northeast of the capital Santo Domingo.The accident is one of the worst in memory in this Caribbean nation, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.The bodies recovered Wednesday “were in an advanced state of decomposition, so we are proceeding to bury them immediately,” said Luis Frias, head of Civil Defense in Sabana de la Mar.” Civil defense officials have direct proof of eight survivors, though they believe there were more who managed to swim ashore or were aided by area fishermen.Some 70 people were believed to be aboard the boat when it was swamped by heavy waves in rough weather.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2012.