André Williams, STAR Writer

A boat en route to Miami, Florida, with 12 people aboard including Haitian and Jamaican nationals capsized yesterday morning resulting in the death of four persons with one person in hospital.

THE STAR understands that nine people were found clinging to the hull of the boat when the authorities arrived and a 10th person was taken by boat to Miami Beach, where he was brought to a hospital.

According to www.usatoday.com, the US coast guard responded around 1 a.m. after a distress call alerted authorities to an overturned recreational vessel seven miles east of Miami.

bodies found

THE STAR gathered that the entire group was taken into custody.

Reports from the US coast guard are that the nine people found clinging to the hull were Haitian and Jamaican nationals, but the nationalities of the rest of the group were not immediately known.

A spokesperson for the police said authorities have received conflicting reports about whether more people had been aboard the boat.

Four bodies were recovered from the water and the coast guard was searching for more possible survivors.

The spokesperson said, "Fifteen was the original amount. We're making sure we're very thorough in the search."