U.S. Coast Guard crews searched Tuesday for 10 missing passengers after a makeshift boat carrying 62 migrants capsized late Sunday in the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, leaving at least three people dead and 49 rescued, according to the agency.
Rescue Operations Underway in the Mona Passage
The tragedy unfolded in waters approximately 40 miles west of Puerto Rico near Mona Island. A passing vessel spotted the survivors and reported the accident around noon Monday, more than 12 hours after the vessel overturned, according to the Coast Guard. Helicopters and maritime units from Customs and Border Protection, the Puerto Rico Police, and the Dominican Air Force joined the search effort. U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Ricardo Castrodad noted in a phone interview Tuesday that the timely report from the passing vessel prevented a higher death toll, stating that “everyone could have easily died.” Rescuers pulled 49 people from the water, while images released by the agency showed survivors clinging to the hull and walking along the rocky coastline of the uninhabited nature preserve.
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Machete Attack Triggered Panic Onboard
The violence caused severe injuries and triggered widespread panic, forcing passengers to hurl themselves into the open water without life vests. Jeffrey Quiñones, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, said that most of the rescued passengers are from the Dominican Republic, with at least two others identified as Haitian. The nationalities of the three individuals who died remain unconfirmed by authorities.
A History of Maritime Disasters on Migrant Routes
The route carries a history of fatal wrecks involving overloaded vessels. In June 2022, 11 people died after an overloaded boat capsized north of another uninhabited island west of Puerto Rico, primarily involving Haitian passengers. Decades prior, Cuban migrants frequently utilized similar makeshift routes to reach Mona Island under former immigration policies.
Machete attack on overloaded boat sparks deadly panic
How many people were on the capsized boat?
Survivors reported that 62 people were aboard the makeshift vessel when it overturned.
What caused the passengers to enter the water?
A fight broke out onboard late Sunday, and a passenger attacked others with a machete, creating panic that led people to jump into the sea.
Where did the incident occur?
The boat capsized in the Mona Passage near Mona Island, roughly 40 miles west of Puerto Rico.
Who is leading the rescue and search efforts?
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the operation, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, the Puerto Rico Police, and the Dominican Air Force.
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