Machete Fight On Migrant Vessel Causes Capsize; Coast Guard Rescues Dozens Alive, Recovers 2 Dead

A makeshift vessel carrying dozens of migrants capsized after a machete fight on board, leaving at least two people dead and dozens more stranded in the waters off Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan were alerted at around noon Monday by the crew of the Motor Vessel Tripiti that they had pulled four people from the water approximately 10 miles offshore Mona Island after a makeshift vessel capsized.

The survivors reported there had been an estimated 60 people on board when a fight broke out late Sunday night. An unknown number of people were reportedly severely injured by a machete, forcing people to jump into the water in an effort to swim to Mona Island. No one had life jackets.

The vessel reportedly capsized at around 11 p.m. Sunday, leaving dozens of people stranded in the water.

The Coast Guard launched search and rescue operations, with the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle and air crews from Coast Guard Air Stations Miami and San Juan, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and the Dominican Republic Air Force.

The Coast Guard said at least two people were recovered deceased, and at least 40 people were rescued from the water as of Monday evening. Search operations were expected to continue.

The Coast Guard is asking anyone with information relevant to search efforts to call the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.