Authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis have launched an investigation following the unsettling discovery of at least 19 bodies found adrift in the ocean.

On Wednesday morning at approximately 11:30 a.m., the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard responded to an alert regarding a vessel that was seen drifting near the shores of Nevis. Upon inspection, the craft, which was partially submerged, revealed decomposed human remains onboard. The vessel was subsequently towed to St. Kitts, where police and medical teams have begun thorough examinations.

Police Commissioner James Sutton reported that the boat in question was a fishing vessel, a type not commonly found in Caribbean waters. He expressed his belief that this vessel may have originated from the West African coastline.

The authorities are now grappling with the challenge of confirming the total number of bodies and identifying them. Due to the advanced decomposition of the remains, this task has proven to be quite challenging, according to Sutton.

This incident marks a notable first for the dual-island nation, as such discoveries have not been reported in recent history.