Santo Domingo.- Search and rescue teams found three more bodies Thursday of the boatpeople who drowned Saturday, raising the number to 52 deaths from the sinking of the makeshift craft next to the Cayo Levantado, Samaná Bay (northeast), one of the country’s most paradisiacal islets.
Survivors said more than 70 people had crowded into the yola type boat which transported undocumented travelers headed Puerto Rico.
Samana Civil Defense director Morayma Ramon confirmed the information and announced the suspension of the search for more victims near 6pm yesterday, to resume Friday, after rescuers found three more bodies.
The official said 11 bodies in advanced state of decomposition had to be buried despite being unidentified.

These boats have a shallow draft. If it broke-up from hitting a reef, the water would have been no more than waist deep. Even without life-jackets, there would have been enough pieced of wood to keep more survivors afloat. These are tropical waters, not the freezing North Atlantic. I suspect foul play, don't you?
Thank you Lie-onel Fernandez for your abandonment of National Priorities like EDUCATION and Agriculture to fund the non-priority METRO!
I hope this man’s GHOST haunts you for the rest of your miserable existence on this earth!
“One of the dead castaways was a rice grower drowned in debts”
“Agricultural leader said "the rice sector has become a wrecked ship because of the captain, the Minister of agriculture, Chío Jiménez," who he said has totally disappointed the agriculture sector”
http://www.acento.com.do/index.ph....n-arrocero-ahogado-en-deudas.html