Turks and Caicos -- 17 passengers aboard a sailboat were killed in a fatal capsizing near Providenciales, the most populous island of Turks and Caicos on Christmas day.
The beautiful, exotic seas of Turks and Caicos played host to the capsizing that caused the death of 17 people, confirmed the governmental press office.
According to the report, the incident happened when officials from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force stopped the sailboat as part of an inspection routine to help fight illegal migration. The overcrowded sailboat was crammed with 50 people on board, confirmed Associated Press.
Migrants from Haiti would often migrate to British territory Turks and Caicos through illegal means in search of work away from the impoverished Carribean country.
The first reported death toll was up to 18 but was later on corrected and changed to 17 people in an official statement made by the Turks and Caicos governmental press office through their Facebook page.
Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Commissioner Colin Farquhar said that 33 individuals were arrested after the incident and also mentioned that rescue of the fallen would continue. The boat had been stopped by officials from Turks and Caicos mainly due to the condition of the light and the sea.
The United States Coast Guard helped in the rescue and reported the death toll as 55 people. No further explanation or statements to correct the discrepancy has been made by either government.
"I speak on behalf of all of the Turks and Caicos Islands authorities, as well as the RTCIPF, when I say thank you to our partners, including the US Coast Guard who provided aerial support in the form of a helicopter and a C-130 maritime patrol aircraft today," Police Commissioner Farquhar stated. "Their assistance is greatly appreciated."
The sailboat has been removed from the sea and will become part of the investigation process made by Turks and Caicos officials.
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