On January 30, 2025, the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard towed a vessel containing 19 decomposing bodies to St. Kitts. Investigators have confirmed that several of the deceased passengers were from Mali, West Africa, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
- 19 decomposing bodies found in Caribbean boat
- Victims identified as being from Mali
- Vessel towed to St. Kitts for investigation
- Bodies too decomposed to identify genders
- Possible link to similar Trinidad incident
- Previous migrant tragedy off Tobago reported
The boat was discovered drifting near Nevis Island, prompting a swift response from local authorities. The bodies were found in an advanced state of decomposition, making it difficult for investigators to determine their identities or genders.
The vessel was located drifting in the Caribbean Sea near Nevis Island, leading to the intervention of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force Coast Guard. Upon interception around noon local time, the boat was towed to St. Kitts for further investigation. Authorities reported that the deceased had likely died long before the boat reached the area.
Key details include:
- The vessel had been at sea for an extended duration.
- Investigators found documents indicating that some deceased passengers were from Mali.
- The bodies were too decomposed to ascertain gender or identity.
Local officials are currently investigating whether this incident is connected to a similar tragedy involving a vessel found near Trinidad last week, which contained the remains of five unidentified individuals. That vessel sank while being towed to Trinidad. This incident echoes a similar event in May 2021, when a boat carrying migrants from West Africa was discovered off Tobago.
St. Kitts and Nevis, located about 170 miles southeast of the U.S. Virgin Islands, are part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The discovery of these bodies has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of maritime migration routes in the region.
The tragic discovery of 19 bodies in a drifting vessel underscores the dangers associated with maritime migration. As investigations continue, authorities are working to uncover more details about the victims and the circumstances leading to this heartbreaking event.
