Tragic Sea Journey: Haitian Migrants Perish in Boat Fire

At least 40 Haitian migrants were killed after their boat caught fire while en route to the Turks and Caicos islands. Over 80 people were on board. The fire started during a ritual involving candles. This tragedy underscores the risks of irregular migration routes driven by Haiti's severe violence.

At least 40 Haitian migrants lost their lives after their boat caught fire on Wednesday, officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Haiti reported on Friday.

The vessel, which was transporting over 80 individuals, departed from Fort Saint-Michel in northern Haiti and was heading towards the Turks and Caicos islands. According to a statement from the IOM, citing the migration authority of the Caribbean nation, 41 survivors were rescued by the Haitian coast guard and are currently receiving care and support. Eleven of the survivors have been hospitalized.

Jean-Henry Petit, head of the civil protection office in northern Haiti, informed the Miami Herald that passengers used matches to light ritual candles, inadvertently causing gasoline drums to ignite and explode. IOM's chief of mission in Haiti, Gregoire Goodstein, stated that this tragic event emphasizes the perilous conditions faced by migrants taking irregular routes. He also pointed out that escalating gang violence has forced many Haitians to take desperate measures to flee the country.

In July, hundreds of Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti to support local law enforcement in combating gang violence, which has led to a humanitarian crisis displacing nearly 600,000 people and leaving 5 million in severe food insecurity.

(With inputs from agencies.)