Dozens missing as boat capsizes

A boat carrying Haitian migrants capsized off the Dominican Republic, killing one and leaving dozens missing.

The 30 foot long wooden boat was overloaded with about 150 people and turned over close to shore off the north-west Dominican town of Monte Cristi last night, officials said.

A coast guard ship on patrol in the area reached the scene within hours and has rescued 110 people, the Navy said.

One man’s body was recovered and about 39 are believed missing, the Navy said.

Dominican authorities called off the search for additional survivors today, saying they didn’t expect to find any more.

Officials said they believed some of those missing could have swum to shore, but it was unclear how far off the coast the boat capsized.

Some of the Haitians told Dominican authorities they were headed for Miami, but they had been travelling east instead of north-west toward Florida.

The Dominican Republic and its poorer neighbour Haiti share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.