Twenty-eight fatalities caused by a sunken Haitian vessel on Saturday, prompted an air and sea search by joint Law Enforcement Agencies in Abaco after several bodies were recovered from waters in Marsh Harbour, in the early morning hours.

Local residents, on Saturday morning, shortly after 8, discovered the bodies in waters near Man O War Cay, at the entrance of Marsh Harbour.

The discovery of the bodies prompted a search by Police Fire and Rescue Services, Immigration and Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Officers along with the United States Coast Guard, who conducted a search near Fowl Cay and Man-O-War Cay approximately 6 miles off the coast of mainland Abaco.

As a result of the search, 15 Haitian nationals were found on Fowl Cay, taken aboard the RBDF HMBS Durward Knowles, and transported to the clinic in Marsh Harbour where they were evaluated, 13 lifeless bodies were retrieved from nearby waters.

According to Defence Force personnel, eight of the lifeless bodies were discovered from a sunken vessel that was spotted near Fowl Cay, on Saturday.

RBDF resumed dive operations yesterday morning with the assistance of local authorities and dive operators, recovering an additional 15 bodies from the sunken vessel. Two other Haitian nationals were found alive on a nearby cay.

Defence Force officials say so far 17 Haitian nationals have been rescued and 28 bodies recovered from the water.

The remaining Haitians nationals rescued were subsequently transported to the clinic in Marsh Harbourfor evaluation, and handed over to Immigration and police officials for further investigation.

At last report, 80 Haitian nationals were believed to be on board a sailing vessel that originated from Haiti, dozens are still missing, according to officials in Abaco.