Eight people including two children were reportedly found dead in a marsh near the Canada-U.S. border while trying to cross illegally into the United States, police said Friday.
Their bodies were discovered near a capsized boat belonging to a missing man from the Akwesasne Mohawk community, officials reported
“A total of eight bodies have now been recovered from the waters,” local police chief Shawn Dulude told a press conference.
An initial six people from two families—one of Romanian descent with Canadian passports, the other from India—were discovered late Thursday, including one child under the age of three
At a press conference, Dulude also disclosed that two more people—an infant Canadian citizen of Romanian descent, and one adult female believed to be an Indian national, were reportedly found on Friday.
Canadian authorities believe the victims were attempting to enter the United States illegally from Canada.
The Mohawk tribal Territories straddles the Canadian province of Quebec and Ontario, and the United State of New York.
The capsized boat was described as “very small” for poor weather conditions including rain, sleet and strong wind.
“It was not a good time to be out on the water,” loca deputy police chief, Lee-Ann O’Brien told a news conference earlier in the day.
Delude added that such crossings were sometimes facilitated by local people, particularly young people who are lured by the money and exploited by criminal organisations.
The first body was found during an aerial search of the area.
Authorities are waiting on an autopsy as well as toxicology test results to determine the cause of death.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking to newsmen, said “Our hearts go out to the individuals who perished. This is a heartbreaking situation.”