SANTO DOMINGO - Haiti began to rescue survivors from the shipwreck of a ship with Haitian illegal immigrants in Cuban waters, in which at least 40 people died, Haitian authorities said on Sunday.

"The government has confirmed the news. We are in a emergency meeting," said an official to news website Haiti Press Network (HPN) on Sunday and added there is a "temporary toll of 40 death people."

"Investigations are currently held to find other survivors," he said.

The ship occupied by Haitian illegal immigrants sank on Saturday at 100 meters from Punta Maisi coast in Cuba, where Cuban coast guard recovered the bodies of death men and women and rescued 87 people.

"It is regrettable. The majority of the ship's don't fulfill any security measures," said the source to HPN.

Shipwreck survivors were taken to the Immigrants' International Camp in Punta Maisi to  receive medical treatment.

Haitian immigrants commonly travel through the Caribbean islands and the United States' coasts.

At the end of September, 10 Haitian illegal immigrants died in Turks and Caicos Islands' waters and were repatriated to Haiti.

About 15,000 Haitians, including 6,500 illegal ones, live in Turks and Caicos Islands. These islands are one of the most common destinations of undocumented immigrants from Haiti.