Six missing after boat capsizes off Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico

The US Coast Guard fast response cutter Joseph Napier (Photo: US Coast Guard)

US Coast Guard rescue crews are searching for possible survivors of a capsized boat in the Mona Passage near Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.

Four of the boat’s occupants were rescued by coast guard and Good Samaritan vessels while six other individuals remain missing.

The survivors reported there were ten people aboard when their vessel capsized on Sunday, November 29. The circumstances of the capsizing remain unclear and are being investigated.

Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a report from the ferry Kydon at 23:05 local time on Monday saying they had a visual of multiple persons in the water approximately eight nautical miles west of Desecheo Island.

Kydon was transiting from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic at the time of the sighting.

Shortly thereafter, watchstanders received a second report from the ferry informing that Kydon‘s crew had recovered two survivors from the water.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders diverted the fast response cutter Joseph Napier, which later arrived on-scene and embarked the two survivors from Kydon.

A coast guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter also launched to search for and find signs of additional survivors, while Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine units also responded.

At 07:54 on Tuesday, December 1, Sector San Juan watchstanders received a communication from a Good Samaritan aboard the recreational vessel Kiara reporting having recovered two additional persons from the water. Joseph Napier later rendezvoused with Kiara and embarked the two additional survivors.

The survivors reportedly were not wearing life jackets when rescued and were showing signs of dehydration and sunburn.


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