According to the United Nations, a fire on a boat off Haiti northern coast has claimed the lives of at least 40 migrants. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reports that 41 others were rescued by the Haitian Coast Guard.

The vessel, traveling from Cap-Haitien to the Turks and Caicos Islands, was over 220 kilometers (137 miles) away from its destination when the incident occurred.

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The exact cause of the fire remains unclear, but a local official indicated that candles lit for a safe journey may have ignited gasoline-filled drums. The injured migrants are receiving medical attention from the IOM, with 11 being transported to the nearest hospital.

Each year, tens of thousands flee Haiti, driven by poverty, violence, and lawlessness. Following the takeover of Port-au-Prince by rival armed groups earlier this year, Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned, exacerbating the country’s turmoil.

Grégoire Goodstein, IOM’s chief in Haiti, noted that this tragic event underscores the dangers faced by migrants and the urgent need for safer migration options. Haiti’s dire economic conditions, failing healthcare system, and school closures are pushing many to migrate as a last resort.

Additionally, over 86,000 migrants have been forcibly returned to Haiti this year amid rising violence. The situation has worsened since President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination three years ago, with Kenyan police recently arriving to assist in combating gang violence.