A makeshift boat capsized off a tiny, uninhabited island west of Puerto Rico, and the Coast Guard pulled 40 people from the water while two others died. Officials said on Monday that a fight involving a machete triggered the sinking.
Survivors told the Coast Guard there were about 60 people aboard the vessel when it went down late Sunday. The group jumped into the water without life vests after some were severely injured in the fight. They spent more than 12 hours in the ocean before being spotted.
A person on a passing boat near Mona Island noticed the survivors at around noon on Monday. That person alerted authorities and helped rescue four people at that moment. Rescue efforts were still underway as of Monday evening.
The Capsizing
The Coast Guard said the boat capsized after a fight in which a machete was used. Survivors said the fight left some people severely injured. The group then jumped into the water without life vests.
The survivors were spotted at around noon on Monday, more than 12 hours after the boat went down. Someone on a passing boat near Mona Island saw them and alerted authorities.
The Fight
Survivors described a violent confrontation that involved a machete. Some people were severely injured during the fight, officials said. The exact sequence of events remains unclear, but the Coast Guard confirmed the fight occurred before the boat capsized.
The group then jumped into the water without life vests. Officials said the survivors spent more than 12 hours in the water before being spotted.
The Boat
The Coast Guard said the boat was a makeshift vessel. Officials have not confirmed the nationalities of those on board. The Coast Guard also has not released details about their destinations.
Survivors told the Coast Guard there were about 60 people aboard the boat when it capsized. At least 40 were rescued by the Coast Guard and two died.
The Journey From Hispaniola
Migrants fleeing poverty and violence have long traveled from Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, to Puerto Rico and other islands. They move through the Mona Passage, a stretch of open water that connects the two countries.
Many of these migrants navigate the passage on makeshift boats that can capsize in treacherous waters. The Coast Guard said the boat that sank was one such vessel.
Recent Deadly Voyages
This incident marked only the latest deadly voyage in the region. In June 2022, 11 Haitian women and girls were buried in Puerto Rico after their grossly overloaded boat capsized in open waters northwest of the U.S. territory.
Last week, police in the Turks and Caicos Islands detained a makeshift vessel carrying 60 Haitian migrants. In June, 240 Haitian migrants were detained near the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Situation in Haiti
Gang violence has forced a large number of people from their homes in Haiti. According to U.N. data, more than 3,000 people were reportedly killed between January and June. Armed groups control significant portions of Port-au-Prince and other areas.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Boat capsized | Late Sunday | Near Mona Island, west of Puerto Rico |
| Survivors spotted | Around noon Monday | Near Mona Island |
| Rescue began | Around noon Monday | Near Mona Island |
| Rescue ongoing | As of Monday evening | Near Mona Island |
What We Know So Far
The Coast Guard has not confirmed the nationalities of those on board. Officials have not said where the survivors were headed or where they were from.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Human Cost
Two people died and dozens survived a fight involving a machete on a capsized boat. The survivors spent more than 12 hours in the water without life vests.
The Coast Guard continues to search for anyone else who may have been on the boat.
Source material: “At least 40 rescued, 2 dead as boat capsizes after machete fight near Puerto Rico,” Fox News.
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