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Haiti-Carnival: Shipwreck off the Coast of Cayes, One Dead, One Missing

LES CAYES, Haiti (defend.ht) - One person drowned and another is missing following the sinking of a yacht Sunday off the coast of Les Cayes. The two were trying to reach the third largest city of the country where the national carnival is organized this year.

According to Commissioner Sem Calixte, head of the local police, the luxury boat carrying five young carnival-goers was heading towards the town of Flamant when it reversed in the middle of the heavy seas.

The sinking of the yacht caused a death and one disappeared. The three survivors emerged unscathed.

In other tragic news, a person whose identity was not revealed, was aboard the carnival's floating hotel boat, docked in the harbor of Les Cayes, died in a hospital in the city following a seizure, reported by AlterPresse.

Tens of thousands of carnival-goers, some from the capital and the diaspora, participated in the 2012 edition of the largest Haitian festival whose seat was awarded to the city of Les Cayes on a personal decision of President Michel Martelly.

The three days of fat ended on Tuesday.