PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – UNITS of the Haitian Coast Guard have suspended their search for 10 Haitian migrants (five men, two women and three children) who are reported to be somewhere in the waters of the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

According to Caribbean Net News, the missing persons are believed to be a part of a group of 25 Haitian migrants who were travelling illegally from St. Maarten to the BVI aboard an overcrowded boat.

The vessel collided with shoal water on Monday (Jan. 19) and was destroyed, throwing all its passengers into the water.

The search began that same day and since then BVI Drug Squad Marine units, the BVI Police and fishing vessel Argus have joined the Coast Guard units in the search for survivors.

Currently, one deceased passenger has been recovered from the water while two others made it safely to shore. Argus, which was stationed approximately three miles south of Anegada, BVI, rescued 12 other survivors.

The incident was initially reported to the Coast Guard by a BVI Search and Rescue volunteer and the BVI Police, who reported that a cell phone call to their emergency lines was made from the migrant boat in distress.