CMC – A number of nationals from Antigua and Barbuda and Africa are reported missing after the boat in which they were travelling from Antigua to St. Thomas in the United States Virgin islands (USVI) capsized early Tuesday morning.
The state-owned ABS television reported that three people have died as a result of the tragedy and “are all believed to have been from countries in Africa”.
Chief of Defence Staff of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), Colonel Telbert Benjamin, told ABS News that information suggests the 30 ft vessel, Jenna B, departed from Urlings in Antigua with 32 people on board.
The vessel capsized and sank in deep water about 12 nautical miles south of Conaree in St Kitts, or about 40 miles from Antigua.
The St Kitts -Nevis Defence Force has confirmed that three three bodies had been pulled from the water and that the search is continuing.
Earlier, 16 people had been rescued and taken to St Kitts. ABS said that the authorities had earlier reported the first death came from among that group of 16, but have now indicated there is some uncertainty about the status of that individual.
ABS said that two of the 16 people rescued are nationals of Antigua and Barbuda “while the other 14 are from countries in Africa.
The ABDF Coast Guard is collaborating with their St Kitts-Nevis counterparts, as well as the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre from the French island of Martinique in the search for the other 16 people.
The ABDF has also deployed its fixed-wing aircraft, Alpha One, in the search effort.
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