18 dead as boat capsizes off Turks and Caicos

Providenciales: A spokesman for the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands says 18 migrants died when their overloaded boat capsized off the British territory.

Spokesman Neil Smith says the remains of all 18 people have been recovered. All are believed to have been migrants from Haiti. The sailboat had been detained early today by the marine division of the Turks and Caicos Royal Police Force and was being escorted to the island of Providenciales when it overturned near shore. Authorities rescued 32 people from the water and they are in custody on suspicion of attempting to illegally enter the territory.