At least 14 Haitians died when a twin-engine outboard boat smuggling migrants to the Turks and Caicos capsized in shark-infested waters, the islands' police force said.
Takara Bain, a spokeswoman with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police, said 14 others were rescued before the search-and-rescue operation was suspended until daybreak Monday.
The islands' police marine branch was alerted after 8 a.m. Sunday that a boat transporting undocumented migrants from Haiti had capsized off West Caicos, an uninhabited island in the British overseas territory.
"At this stage, it is unclear as to the total souls on board the vessel," acting Police Commissioner Trevor Botting said. "This is a tragic loss of life. We offer our condolences and sympathies to the families of those affected by this terrible incident. No journey is worth risking lives on the dangerous seas in these small vessels."
