<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">At least 17 people from Haiti have died in a boat accident off the coast of The Bahamas, the government has said.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bahamian PM Philip Davis said it is thought those on board were travelling from Haiti to Miami, Florida in the US.</div><div><br></div><div>Police in The Bahamas said the boat capsized more than 11 km (6.8 miles) off the island of New Providence.</div><div><br></div><div>Another 25 people were rescued, including one woman who was found alive inside the overturned boat, authorities said.</div><div><br></div><div>One child was among the dead. At least one person is still missing, with search missions underway.</div><div><br></div><div>Two people were taken into custody, both from The Bahamas, over the suspected human smuggling operation, officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>The numbers of people attempting the dangerous journey to the United States have increased significantly with the rise in Haiti of gang violence, coupled with endemic poverty.</div><div><br></div><div>Preliminary investigations suggest that the speed boat left New Providence, the most populous island in The Bahamian archipelago, around 01:00 (0500 GMT) on Sunday with some 60 people on board.</div><div><br></div><div>One woman was found alive after police heard her "knocking on the hull of the boat", said Clayton Fernander, police commissioner of The Bahamas.</div><div><br></div><div>"The divers eventually went down and that's where they recovered the bodies, the 17 bodies," he said.</div><div><br></div><div>"There was one female who was still alive, was up in the air pocket of the hull of that boat, so I believe that that's what kept her alive."</div><div><br></div><div>Immigration Minister Keith Bell said survivors indicated that they paid between $3,000 and $8,000 (£2,500 and £6,670) for the voyage.</div><div><br></div><div>"We mourn lives lost of those seeking a better way of life," Mr Bell said. "Those here with families and friends in Haiti, encourage your loved ones not to risk their lives."</div><div><br></div><div>In May, at least 11 people, mostly from Haiti, died near the US territory of Puerto Rico. -bbc</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/TR</div><div><br></div>