A Douglas County woman is clinging to hope as the search for her missing family members in Haitian waters enters a desperate stage. Olna Dupre's older cousin and six young nieces and nephews vanished on December 30, 2023, when their boat encountered stormy weather and capsized off the coast of Haiti. The family was traveling from Gonaives to Bombardopolis to celebrate the New Year together when the tragedy struck.
"This past six days have been no sleep for anyone involved," Dupre said in an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta. According to Dupre’s account, the vessel succumbed to powerful waves, prompting an immediate rescue effort from those on shore. Witnesses told Dupre that the bow of the boat snapped amid the storm, leading to its unfortunate demise. A canoe sent out to aid the boat's passengers also disappeared with thirteen people onboard—including nine belonging to Dupre's family.
Efforts to locate the missing persons have met with complications, as Dupre disclosed to Atlanta News First. "Haiti doesn’t even know that this is happening to my family. Haiti do not know where my family is at," she expressed. The U.S. Coast Guard has mentioned that they do not have records of any search operations regarding the incident, which took place in foreign waters.
Out of the thirteen individuals initially reported missing from the canoe, only two of Dupre's cousins have been found. "Where are they? Where is my family?" questioned a distraught Dupre. She continues her attempts to solicit aid from U.S. and Haitian authorities, despite the presumed lack of an official search and rescue effort, given the remote area of the incident. Dupre holds on to hope, believing that her loved ones may have reached another nearby island. "They’re there. There. They may be on island, maybe somewhere secluded. I’m holding out hope so strongly," she told FOX 5 Atlanta.
