The Navy, the Air Force and rescue organizations have called off the search for a group of 56 Dominicans who were lost at sea after trying to reach Puerto Rico by boat last week (see DR1 Daily News Tuesday 18 October 2005). However, according to Jesus Jimenez, one of the survivors of the ordeal who was able to communicate with relatives, 17 of the missing persons are in Turkilan, an island off the North shore of Haiti, near Key West. According to El Caribe, the group is reported to have been rescued by a fisherman, and taken to the island. Last night, Jose Luis Cosme and Jesus Vasquez, Governor and Senator of Maria Trinidad Sanchez Province were trying to confirm the story. According to the report the survivors are all men. The group was composed of 41 men and 15 women. Minerva Santos, Civil Defense Director in Nagua said that although the search was being called off, they would be on the alert for any new information.