At least three dead in Haiti after boat catches fire during escape attempt

PORT AU PRINCE – Haitian officials say at least three people have died and up to 40 are still missing after a boat carrying up to 80 Haitians caught fire off the coast of northern Haiti as they tried to flee to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

A Haitian government official said Friday that at least 31 people had been rescued by the coast guard.

The captain of the boat was among the dead.

The fire was probably caused by the ignition of two gasoline drums.

The incident occurred against a backdrop of ongoing political unrest in Haiti, with violence spreading in the capital and beyond.