a1996: Did you know? (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Stanley  Lucas <slucas@iri.org>

Refugee boat capsizes in Caribbean
Helicopters, a jet and boats aiding in rescue effort
May 10, 2002 Posted: 1:04 PM EDT (1704 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A sailboat loaded with Haitian refugees capsized at the south end of the Bahamas Friday morning. Two people are confirmed dead and the U.S. Coast Guard said as many as 30 others may be trapped under the vessel.

The Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane was approaching two vessels loaded with refugees early Friday about six miles west of Great Inagua when one of them capsized, according to Coast Guard Cmdr. Jim McPherson. He said overcrowding appeared to be the cause.

He said as many as 100 people were on board the 35-foot vessel. The Coast Guard has rescued 71 people. Two are dead, and as many as 30 may be underneath the vessel -- although a press release from the Coast Guard made no mention of individuals who may be trapped.

"We are doing everything we can to rescue any survivors. However, we do not know how many people may be missing," Lt. Cmdr. Ron LaBrec said in the statement. "This is an extremely dangerous voyage that has resulted in many Haitian deaths in the past."

The Coast Guard statement described the boat as "poorly constructed and severely overloaded," adding that such vessels are used to transport undocumented migrants from Haiti to either the Bahamas or the United States.

The Coast Guard patrols the waters off Haiti in an effort to deter dangerous refugee voyages, as well as drug smuggling.

Two Coast Guard helicopters, a Coast Guard jet and two Bahamian sailing vessels are aiding in the rescue operation, said Lt. Luis Diaz, Coast Guard spokesman in Miami. A C-130 is flying supplies for the survivors from Florida, he added.

Great Inagua is northeast of the channel between Cuba and Haiti.

-- CNN Producer Mike Ahlers contributed to this report