At least 11 dead after ferry sinks

? An overloaded ferry capsized off the coast of southern Haiti, killing at least 11 people, U.N. and Haitian authorities said Sunday.

U.N. peacekeeping mission spokesman David Wimhurst said most of the 100 people aboard the vessel were able to swim to safety. The boat sank after taking on water about 150 yards from shore late Saturday.

Crews recovered 11 bodies from the water according to Wimhurst and Mayor Evil Lavilette of Pestel, the ferry’s departure point. At least five were children.

Lavilette said a passenger called him in distress as the boat foundered, but emergency crews were not able to reach the ferry quickly because the closest rescue boat was out of gas.