In spite of the fact that it was said that there were 56 people involved, the 20 survivors appear to refute that number. These lucky people, 15 men and five women, are being treated for severe dehydration at medical facilities in the Turks & Caicos Islands. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Rosario Graciano de los Santos confirmed that there were 20 survivors out of the group of 22 that sailed from the Dominican Republic, and not 56 as had been reported. The air and sea search for the victims was hampered by high seas and winds and the search was called off. According to El Caribe, the survivors paid between RD$15,000 and RD$30,000 each to make the trip to Puerto Rico. Graciano de los Santos said that after all Dominican diplomats in the Caribbean area were alerted to the situation, the survivors turned up in Turks & Caicos, a British dependency. Official word was sent to the Dominican authorities by David Brett, the first secretary of the Governor of the Turks & Caicos.