A small boat carrying 9 Haitians shipwrecked to some 22 nautical miles south of Catalina Island in the southeast of the Dominican Republic in the province of La Romana.

It was Dominican fishermen who rescued the shipwrecked, 7 survivors were taken out of the water as well as the lifeless bodies of 2 other Haitians, informed the local Dominican Navy which did not specify the destination of the Haitians.

The survivors, probably at sea for several days, who presented "significant sunburn and suffered from dehydration" were transferred to the Antonio Musa hospital, in San Pedro de Macorís, while the bodies of the two drowned Haitians were transported to the forensic medical service, specifies a note from the Dominican navy

The navy has ordered a search and rescue operation in the area, although there are indications that only 9 people were on board the boat, said Captain José Vásquez, spokesman for the local navy.

S/ HaitiLibre