Caribbean boat accident yields few survivors

MIAMI (CNN) -- The U.S. Coast Guard was searching Friday for more than a dozen people still missing after their boat sank in the waters off the Caribbean island of St. Martin.

Two people were rescued and 20 bodies were recovered Thursday. Their boat as carrying as many as 40 people when it sank two miles west of French St. Martin Thursday morning.

"The Coast Guard cutter Staten Island is assisting the French, still hoping to find the remainder of the people," said Petty Officer Robert Suddarth. "As far as we're concerned, it's a search-and-rescue."

Search teams found no survivors or bodies overnight, Suddarth said.

Waters in the area Thursday were rough, he said, with waves at about 10 to 15 feet.

Details about the sunken vessel remained unclear. "That would come much later," said Suddarth.

A Dutch vessel was also assisting the search, the Coast Guard said.

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