At least 40 people were rescued by the US Coast Guard after their boat capsized in open waters several miles from a small, uninhabited island west of Puerto Rico. The incident occurred late Sunday, following a fight that involved a machete, according to officials. Survivors said there were approximately 60 people on board the makeshift boat.
The Coast Guard reported that the fight resulted in severe injuries to some individuals, forcing the group to jump into the water without life vests. The survivors spent over 12 hours in the water before being spotted by someone on a passing boat near Mona Island on Monday. That person alerted authorities and helped rescue four people at the time.
Rescue efforts were ongoing as of Monday evening, but the Coast Guard has not yet disclosed the nationality or origin of the people on the capsized boat. Migrants fleeing poverty and violence have long traveled from the island of Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, to Puerto Rico and other islands, often navigating treacherous waters on makeshift boats.
This incident is the latest in a series of deadly voyages in the region. In June 2022, 11 Haitian women and girls were buried in Puerto Rico after their overloaded boat capsized in open waters. Other recent incidents have also highlighted the risks faced by migrants attempting to reach the island.
The situation in Haiti, where gang violence has displaced a record 1.5 million people, has contributed to the ongoing migration of people seeking refuge in other countries.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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