At least 19 severely decomposed bodies were discovered aboard a fishing boat drifting in the Caribbean Sea, authorities report.
The grim discovery was made after the coast guard of St. Kitts and Nevis responded to a report of a vessel aimlessly floating in the water on Wednesday morning, January 29. The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force confirmed the find, stating that the boat was towed back to St. Kitts for further investigation.
The boat, a fishing vessel not commonly seen in the Caribbean, was found with nearly 20 bodies on board. Police and medical officials are working to gather more details about the tragic event.
Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Commissioner James Sutton told The Associated Press, “We are not certain, but we believe the vessel originated off the West African coast.”
The victims were already deceased before entering St. Kitts and Nevis’ territorial waters, and they had likely been at sea for a significant period. Some of the deceased appeared to be from Mali in West Africa, based on documents found on the boat.
“The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force extends its deepest condolences to the families and communities affected by this tragedy,” the agency said.
Authorities are now focused on determining the exact number of bodies aboard the boat and identifying the victims. Investigators will also work to uncover the cause of the mass deaths, though the process is complicated by the advanced decomposition of the bodies.
“The RSCNPF is working diligently to confirm their identities and understand the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation,” the police force stated.
The crime scene unit has processed the area and collected evidence, which is being analyzed by authorities.
