By Daniel Guevarra 

July 29, 2009, The US Coast Guard crews continue to assist Turks and Caicos Islands officials in searching for as many as 67 Haitian migrants missing from a vessel that capsized Monday.

On Monday, Turks and Caicos Islands officials contacted the Coast Guard at 2:52 p.m. to report a large number of people in the water approximately 2.3 nautical miles southeast of West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands. 

An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter assigned to Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) launched from Providenciales and medevaced four passengers with the most significant injuries.  The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant arrived on scene and searched for survivors throughout the night. 

118 Haitians have been rescued and transported to safety by Turks and Caicos Island Police authorities and the Coast Guard. A total of 15 passengers have been located and are deceased.

The Coast Guard is searching with an HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., deployed in support of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos., and  HU-25 Falcon jet and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami.

Many Haitian migrants each year attempt leave their impoverished Caribbean country in dangerously crowded boats, in hopes of escaping poverty and find work in the Bahamas or Florida. Last week, the Coast Guard intercepted 124 Haitian migrants from what they called a "grossly overloaded" 60-foot boat about 150 miles southwest of the shipwreck site. They were repatriated to Haiti on Monday.