U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews searched Tuesday for possible survivors of a boat that capsized on Sunday in the Mona Passage near Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.
The Coast Guard rescued four men from the accident, and those survivors reported there were 10 people aboard when their vessel capsized on Sunday.
The circumstances of the capsizing remained unclear on Tuesday afternoon and were being investigated.
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a report from the ferry Kydon at 11:05 p.m. on Monday reporting that they had a visual of multiple persons in the water, approximately eight nautical miles west of Desecheo Island. The Kydon was transiting from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic at the time of the sighting.
Shortly afterward, watchstanders received a second report from the ferry saying the Kydon’s crew had recovered two survivors from the water.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier, which arrived on the scene and took on Kydon’s two rescued survivors. A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter also searched, while Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine units also responded.
At 7:54 a.m. Tuesday, 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.
The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier rendezvoused with the Kiara and embarked the two survivors.
The survivors reportedly were not wearing life jackets when rescued and were showing signs of dehydration and sunburn, according to the Coast Guard news release.
Coast Guard assets involved in the search are Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier, Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen and an HC-130 aircraft from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, which was is expected to join search efforts during the day.
