PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — President Jovenel Moïse yesterday expressed sympathies to the families of people who are still missing after a boat, carrying at least 50 people, capsized off Turtle Island, one of many islands named for their turtle shapes, north of here, on Sunday

Coast Guard officials said that nine people had so far been rescued and the search is continuing for the others.

“I learned with emotion the shipwreck that occurred this Sunday off the island of Turtle. My sympathies to the families of the victims of this tragedy,” said Moïse in a very brief statement.

The Embassy of Spain in Haiti also expressed sympathy to the “families of the victims of the sinking off the island of Turtle”.

The Coast Guard, which is coordinating the search, did not give the location nor did it provide details regarding the two people who were found on Monday, but on Sunday, the Rescue Unit of the Directorate of Civil Protection (DCP) said three of the seven people, who had earlier been rescued, had been taken to the Haut-Palmiste hospital for medical attention.

The survivors said that the boat from Turtle Island was carrying at least 50 Haitian migrants and was trying to illegally enter Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, 200 km to the north.

The DPC said the search is continuing for survivors.

Despite warnings, Haitians have been making the dangerous voyage by sea in boats in a bid to escape poverty on the French-speaking Caribbean Community country.