At least 38 Haitian migrants died after a boat in which they were trying to flee their country started taking in water and was stranded at sea, the Cuban government said.

The gruesome discovery was made on Saturday when the Cuban Coast Guard found the half-sunken boat about 100 meters off Point Maisi, on the eastern shore of the communist-ruled island.

A statement from the Cuban Civil Defence agency read by state television said the dead included 21 men and 17 women.

Another 87 people, including four children and seven women, were rescued and moved to an international migrants' camp at Point Maisi, where they have been given assistance, the statement said.

The Civil Defence agency did not elaborate on the cause of the shipwreck. But rusty, dilapidated and overcrowded boats carrying migrants from Haiti are often found in distress in the Caribbean Sea.

Cuban officials said the Coast Guard and Red Cross are continuing to search for more survivors.

AFP