20 dead in Caribbean boat accident

PHILIPSBURG, St. Martin (CNN) -- A boat carrying as many as 40 people sank Thursday in the waters off this Caribbean island, killing at least 20 people aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

A massive search-and-rescue effort, involving French, Dutch and U.S. crews, was under way for those still missing, said Brendan McPherson, a Coast Guard spokesman for the Atlantic-area command.

Two people have been rescued, he said, and 20 bodies have been recovered.

"The focus right now is on the search for survivors," he said. "They do believe more people are missing and they are continuing to search."

He said the Coast Guard received a call at 10:50 a.m. Thursday, requesting assistance in the search for "up to 40 people" after a boat sank two miles west of French St. Martin.

Two Coast Guard cutters and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter were assisting the search efforts, being led by a French naval vessel. French customs and army crews were participating. A Dutch vessel also was assisting, McPherson said.

He said little was known about the sunken vessel. He said officials were trying to learn more about the boat from the two people rescued.

"It is unclear how the boat sank, where it was coming from or where it was going," McPherson said.

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