The coast guard said it was attempting to help Turks and Caicos authorities rescue up to 70 stranded Haitian migrants, and that between 160 to 200 people may have been onboard the overloaded vessel when it overturned late on Monday.

It said it airlifted four injured migrants via helicopter to an airport in Providenciales, while officials from the Turks and Caicos used small boats to rescue approximately 40 stranded migrants.

- miami herald -

At least two bodies have been pulled from the water - earlier reports suggested that four had been found.

"We're hopeful that we will be able to find survivors, however it has been a night and we have not located any additional people," said Lt-Cdr Moorlag.

"We do have searches that are on going right now and we will have some aircraft up at first light."

US officials earlier said a helicopter was on the scene and a cutter was making its way there.

- bbc -

The boat had been at sea for three days when passengers saw a police vessel and accidentally steered their craft on to a reef as they tried to escape, a survivor, Alces Julien, told the Associated Press.

Elgammal said information from survivors indicated that between 160 and 200 people had been on board when the vessel capsized. She added that the cause of the accident was under investigation.

- guardian -