Four migrants died and around 20 others are missing after their boat capsized off the coast of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, authorities said on Friday.
According to the Dominican Civil Defence Authority, seventeen people were rescued from the vessel, which was carrying approximately 40 individuals and was en route to Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
The Dominican Navy confirmed that the rescued passengers included 10 Dominicans and seven Haitians. A child was among the survivors.
The vessel was identified as a “yola” — a type of makeshift boat typically built from wood or fiberglass. Authorities noted that such boats often do not meet basic safety standards, making them especially dangerous for open-sea travel.
Migrants can pay up to $7,000 for a one-way journey from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The island nation shares Hispaniola with neighboring Haiti, which continues to grapple with deepening political and humanitarian crises.
Illegal migration from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico has been on the rise over the past decade, driven by economic hardship and instability in the region.
