Nineteen killed as boat sinks off Haiti

Nineteen Haitians have died when a boat transporting them between the southern coastal settlements of Anse-a-Pitre and Marigot sank in the early hours of the morning, Prime Minister Ariel Henry says on Twitter.

Local media quoted a survivor identified as Marie Lucienne Pola as saying the boat, which was used for transporting gas, cement, food and passengers, was overloaded.

The boat, which media named as Eklezyas, sank opposite the town of Belle-Anse.

Civil protection authorities in Marigot said 11 bodies had been recovered by Saturday morning.

Local fishing and transport vessels helped rescue survivors from the boat.

Such vessels typically carry hundreds of people.