San Juan, Puerto Rico — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued at least 40 people and recovered two bodies after a boat capsized several miles from a small, uninhabited island west of Puerto Rico on Monday. Authorities estimate that around 60 people were aboard, leaving several individuals still missing as rescue operations continue.
Survivors reported spending more than 12 hours in the water before a passing vessel near Mona Island spotted them around noon and alerted the Coast Guard, which immediately rescued four people. Rescue efforts remained underway into the evening.
The incident began late Sunday when a makeshift vessel, crowded with migrants, capsized following a violent altercation. During the fight, several passengers sustained severe machete injuries, prompting the group to abandon the boat and enter the water without life jackets.
The nationality of the passengers has not been determined. A Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed that the agency currently lacks details on the origin of those involved.
The tragedy adds to a broader pattern of perilous migration from Hispaniola — the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic — toward Puerto Rico and neighboring islands. Many flee poverty and violence, navigating the treacherous Mona Passage in overcrowded, flimsy craft that frequently capsize in rough seas.
Previous incidents include the June 2022 capsizing of an overloaded boat carrying 11 Haitian girls and women, who were later buried in Puerto Rico. In a separate recent operation, authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands detained a makeshift boat with 60 Haitian migrants last week, while earlier in June, 240 Haitian migrants were apprehended near the archipelago.
Gang violence in Haiti has displaced a record 1.5 million people. According to United Nations data, more than 3,050 individuals were killed nationwide between January and June. Armed groups currently control an estimated 70 % of Port‑au‑Prince and extensive areas in central Haiti.
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